Bromley Common benefits claimant admits stealing mail from posties

1:19pm Tuesday 19th March 2013 in News By Robert Fisk

Ben Martin pleaded guilty to three counts of theft Ben Martin pleaded guilty to three counts of theft

A BENEFIT claimant who told News Shopper people turn to crime in order to survive has stayed true to his word – by stealing from postmen doing their rounds.

Benjamin Martin has been jailed for 18 weeks, suspended for two years, after pleading guilty to three counts of theft at Bromley Magistrates’ Court.

He was also ordered to carry out 280 hours’ unpaid community service as well as participating in an education training and employment programme for 25 days.

His sentence comes just weeks after he spoke about his fears of what will happen once the reforms to the benefit system come in on April 1, with benefits being capped at £500 a week per household.

Back then Martin, of Turpington Lane, Bromley Common, said it was already very difficult for him and his girlfriend to bring up their baby on benefits.

He said: “People rob and get put in prison just to survive.”

The first charge related to December 1 when the 20-year-old snatched a bundle of 35 letters from a postie’s bag in Chatterton Road, Bromley Common.

Two days later he snatched a bundle of letters and a packet from a postman who was making deliveries in nearby Johnson Road.

He was chased by the postman and dropped the bundle of letters in his haste to get away.

A month later, on January 3, a postman was making deliveries in Walpole Road, Bromley, when Martin grabbed a large bundle of letters and a packet.

Martin was chased by the postman and he dropped the bundle of letters.

Comments(26)

Virtual-Monster says...
1:24pm Tue 19 Mar 13

Some people are just scummy thieves.....

Report this post »

Oldchap says...
1:51pm Tue 19 Mar 13

Difficult for him & his girlfriend to bring up a baby on benefits?

What about getting a job

Report this post »

cookster says...
2:10pm Tue 19 Mar 13

He's now got a job. Ironically sewing mailbags...

Report this post »

Gypo.Joe says...
2:25pm Tue 19 Mar 13

Not the brightest bulb in the box Martin are you ?

Has his face all over the Shopper then goes out and robs his local postman.
Martins unemployed for a reason.....yes he is as dumb as a box of rocks.

Report this post »

danm5577 says...
2:30pm Tue 19 Mar 13

what a good example he is setting his kid.
And should people get pregnant when they can't really afford it?

Report this post »

Gypo.Joe says...
2:43pm Tue 19 Mar 13

danm5577 wrote:
what a good example he is setting his kid.
And should people get pregnant when they can't really afford it?
Well this type only think with the little head and not the big head.

Report this post »

the wall says...
3:03pm Tue 19 Mar 13

I just knew he was to stupid to get a job. Now he's made it even hard to get a job. What a mug.

Report this post »

Teaspoon says...
3:15pm Tue 19 Mar 13

Hope you're reading these comments Martin....

I think people should do some kind of voluntary work for their benefit money and not just be given it.

Report this post »

daveforlondon says...
3:17pm Tue 19 Mar 13

Haha i recognise this guy, and yes everything you may think is true. One of the local riff raffs, who smoke weed, cliam beneifits and commits crime. I feel sorry for the child. Goverment cant help you if you dont even help yourself!!

Report this post »

Marty1979 says...
6:55am Wed 20 Mar 13

Presumably the child made sure they got housed? Us idiots who work need to spend a large amount on mortgage etc

And our taxes pay for his benefits

Report this post »

Gavinp says...
7:18am Wed 20 Mar 13

Should he be allowed a child if he is this stupid?

Report this post »

PaulErith says...
10:19am Thu 21 Mar 13

His attitude sums up the benefits culture in Britain. I believe that he genuinely feels hard done by the system. It's not good enough that he has a baby he can't afford, gets a council house and benefits. Total scum! There needs to be a serious reality check in this country. Benefits are a safety net, not a lifestyle choice.

Report this post »

Gypo.Joe says...
11:02am Thu 21 Mar 13

PaulErith wrote:
His attitude sums up the benefits culture in Britain. I believe that he genuinely feels hard done by the system. It's not good enough that he has a baby he can't afford, gets a council house and benefits. Total scum! There needs to be a serious reality check in this country. Benefits are a safety net, not a lifestyle choice.
Top comment Paul. People like this POS need to do some kind of work for their benefit. Pick up litter, push a broom or a paint brush etc for 8 hours a day. No show, no bennies.

Report this post »

Slonik says...
11:42am Thu 21 Mar 13

Perhaps if people like him spent less time making babies and more time studying hard to get a good job, they wouldn't have to resort to benefits and theft. It seems to me that rather too many people want to exercise their rights whilst avoiding the responsibilities.

Report this post »

Marty1979 says...
10:39pm Thu 21 Mar 13

Gypo.Joe wrote:
PaulErith wrote:
His attitude sums up the benefits culture in Britain. I believe that he genuinely feels hard done by the system. It's not good enough that he has a baby he can't afford, gets a council house and benefits. Total scum! There needs to be a serious reality check in this country. Benefits are a safety net, not a lifestyle choice.
Top comment Paul. People like this POS need to do some kind of work for their benefit. Pick up litter, push a broom or a paint brush etc for 8 hours a day. No show, no bennies.
This was tried - but the civil liberals went mad

Various companies got slaughtered because they were giving the long term unemployed work, to give experience & help them get a job

The press went to town that the firms weren't paying them, but on fact these slackers were still getting their benefits

Main problem was they objected to having to get up in the morning & go to work (travel paid for by social), having to physically do something instead of going out with their chav mates

So Tescos & others didn't pay them - we did

Report this post »

the wall says...
10:20am Fri 22 Mar 13

Marty1979 wrote:
Gypo.Joe wrote:
PaulErith wrote:
His attitude sums up the benefits culture in Britain. I believe that he genuinely feels hard done by the system. It's not good enough that he has a baby he can't afford, gets a council house and benefits. Total scum! There needs to be a serious reality check in this country. Benefits are a safety net, not a lifestyle choice.
Top comment Paul. People like this POS need to do some kind of work for their benefit. Pick up litter, push a broom or a paint brush etc for 8 hours a day. No show, no bennies.
This was tried - but the civil liberals went mad

Various companies got slaughtered because they were giving the long term unemployed work, to give experience & help them get a job

The press went to town that the firms weren't paying them, but on fact these slackers were still getting their benefits

Main problem was they objected to having to get up in the morning & go to work (travel paid for by social), having to physically do something instead of going out with their chav mates

So Tescos & others didn't pay them - we did
Not quite, some good honest people not were looking for work were treated as a slave.

There's a difference between doing work for the benefit of the community (Picking up litter and push a broom etc.). And enforced labour in Poundland stacking shelves under the pretence of a chance of a job after 2 weeks. When in reality there was no job. Poundland and others were getting away with unpaid labour. These massive retailers who could easily afford to pay them the minimum wage, this demeans and frustrates them when we should be empowering and supporting them.

These Orwellian schemes are about work for its own sake rather than for any greater purpose.

Report this post »

the wall says...
10:24am Fri 22 Mar 13

Correction:

Not quite, some good honest people were looking for work and were treated as a slave.

Report this post »

Gypo.Joe says...
11:23am Fri 22 Mar 13

There's plenty for the benefit scroungers to do with local councils. Yea they will be menial jobs, if they don't like it go get another job.

Report this post »

goldenbroomboy says...
11:50am Fri 22 Mar 13

Slonik wrote:
Perhaps if people like him spent less time making babies and more time studying hard to get a good job, they wouldn't have to resort to benefits and theft. It seems to me that rather too many people want to exercise their rights whilst avoiding the responsibilities.
Well, he has at least found something that he can do.

Problem is we don't really need any more unemployed males who can help make babies at the moment.

Report this post »

Soft Alan says...
9:23am Sat 23 Mar 13

Sounds like a right jobs worth

Report this post »

claireclc says...
2:34pm Sat 23 Mar 13

Ah, I feel terrible for him. Only £500 a week to get by. I work 46 hours a week and earn half that. I have to pay all of my bills myself and pay taxes so this low life doesn't have to go without weed. I swear this country is really trying my patience.

Report this post »

gabbygetsme says...
7:44pm Sat 23 Mar 13

Moral of the story don't have children if you can't afford it. It's hard for anyone without a job in this economic environment doesn't mean all benefit claimants need to steal. This is just a pathetic excuse because this guy is a thief. Bet he hasn't given up his sky subscription though eh.

Report this post »

reasonable75 says...
1:41pm Sun 24 Mar 13

gabbygetsme wrote:
Moral of the story don't have children if you can't afford it. It's hard for anyone without a job in this economic environment doesn't mean all benefit claimants need to steal. This is just a pathetic excuse because this guy is a thief. Bet he hasn't given up his sky subscription though eh.
Sky (full package) broadband etc

And I walked past the job centre in Bromley - everyone waiting to sign on had smartphones, so who pays for them?

Report this post »

reasonable75 says...
2:58pm Sun 24 Mar 13

I wonder what happened to his friend

http://www.newsshopp
er.co.uk/news/politi
cs/10193478.Bromley_
benefits_cap_could_i
ncrease_crime_rate__
claimants_say/

Still on the dole, joined the army or out thieving ?

Report this post »

banjo8 says...
8:56am Mon 25 Mar 13

And, what's more, this will only get worse. The govt is starting a trial to crack down on these benefit blaggers, which is the right thing to do, but they'll be out robbing in Wigan and the other trial areas before you can say 'housing benefit.

Report this post »

reasonable75 says...
1:01pm Tue 2 Apr 13

And just seen that his mate is due in court for stealing sweets!

http://www.newsshopp
er.co.uk/news/103271
09.Budgens_sweet_thi
ef_suspect_set_to_ap
pear_at_Bromley_Magi
strates__Court/

Report this post »

click2find

About cookies

We want you to enjoy your visit to our website. That's why we use cookies to enhance your experience. By staying on our website you agree to our use of cookies. Find out more about the cookies we use.

I agree