A council worker who took part in national sprinting atheltics races while signed off work with a bad back has been found guilty of fraud.
Matthew Thomas, 34, was found guilty of defrauding Newham Council after being signed off with a bad back from his job as payroll officer while still taking part in national competitions.
He claimed the injury was caused by falling off a ladder and was paid £13,892.12 between November 2007 and June 2008.
But during that time he took part in the national indoor meeting at Birmingham, where he ran 60m in an astonishing 7.15 seconds and and a track meeting in Surrey where he ran the 100m in 10.89 seconds – just a second off the British record of 9.87 seconds.
Over five years he had become one of the country’s most promising sprinters achieving a career best of 10.3 seconds for 100m which placed him among the elite.
He was found guilty of six counts of fraud by false representation after he submitted sick notes claiming he was unfit to work but was cleared of three counts of fraud by false representation and one count of fraud by failing to disclose information relating to athletics coaching.
Mr Thomas had claimed that the injury prevented him sitting down for long periods but had not impaired his ability to coach athletes or take part in events.
He had also argued that taking part in races had enabled him to claim free physiotherapy.
Rebecca Channon, prosecuting, said: ‘This case is about fraud and dishonesty. Plainly he was carrying on quite an active life outside his employment at the London Borough of Newham whilst being off sick.’ He will be sentenced on 30 September.
