It's not very often we write an article about the organ grinder instead of the monkey, but today we are trailing our sights firmly on the BBC instead of their bastard offshoot TV Licensing.
We have previously accused the BBC of hypocrisy for the way it gleefully exposes swindlers and charlatans on programmes like Watchdog and Rogue Traders when their TV Licensing representatives are often guilty of far worse. Mindful of our past comparison we wet ourselves laughing at today's news that Rogue Traders co-presenter Dan Penteado has been charged with benefit and council tax fraud.
The 40-year-old Portugueser stands accused of pocketing more than £24,000 in state handouts at the same time as he was on the BBC payroll.
Penteando was summoned to attend Bournemouth Magistrates' Court yesterday, after ignoring letters of enquiry from the local council. He failed to attend the hearing and a warrant was issued for his arrest. BBC man Penteando is currently being hunted by Dorset Police.
Johanne McNamara, prosecuting for Bournemouth Borough Council, told magistrates that Penteado, a private investigator, stated he was a student to claim the benefit from 2008 to 2012.
She said: "Mr Penteado was claiming housing benefit and council tax benefit on the basis he was a full-time student with a family, he received benefit on that basis.
"Over a period of time his position has changed. He was actually employed on BBC's Rogue Traders' programme as a motorbike rider.
"There are a number of offences.
"Some relate to failing to disclose a bank account which his wages were paid into, others relate to failing to notify a change in his circumstances when he was hired by the BBC."
Penteando started working on Rogue Traders in 2001. In the last series he confronted 8 business owners accused of ripping-off the public.
5 comments:
Oh dear.
Almost as bad as Radio 2 employing shoplifter Richard Madeley.
He'll probably claim memory lapse as his reason for not disclosing his income in a familiar fashion to Madeley and will be back within the BBC soon enough.
We should point out that Richard Madeley was acquitted of all charges against him...
... quite how he got away with it we don't know!
He told the court that he walked out of a supermaket with goods without paying because he was absent minded and that he was not shoplifting.
It's well documented and I did mention his 'memory lapse' in my original message. Either way, sh*t stcks.
Erm - isn't that final comment libellous, Admin?!?
Not libellous at all.
He admitted to walking out of a supermarket without paying and I can't quite see how his shit defence of "I was forgetful" managed to bluff the Judge.
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