FAO Waddockhunt - this derby fire business

Saw your post last night and just wanted to comment having read quite a bit about the matter in the papers this morning. I'm no particular fan of the Daily Mail and it is definitely a paper which goes for shock value or as some would put it trolling. However, surely in this case they have a point as the evidence shows that the motive for this particular crime was financial and linked to the benefits Philpott had been living on.

He received ?4,000 a month in benefits for his multiple children but when one of the mothers moved out and took 5 of the kids with her his benefit income was halved so he was trying to frame her for the fire so as to win custody of the kids and get his benefit income level back up.

I think its therefore perfectly fair to say that this crime was (at least in part) a product of the benefit system (as well as the fact that some people in this world (regardless of wealth/class) are unfortunately just unpleasant scum) just as I think it would also be fair to say that the fact he was able to have 17 children whilst not working and rely entirely on benefits from the state to live on is also a product of that system. That is not the same as saying all people on benefits are scroungers or criminals who would burn their own houses down for cash!

Posted By: Jim, Apr 3, 09:33:35