A bin loader for Birmingham City Council has been forced to resign after a counter-fraud investigation exposed his elaborate deception. The employee had claimed an accident at work left him confined to a wheelchair, but was later secretly filmed working as a pub bouncer, playing football, and carrying out everyday tasks without any assistance.
The Unusual Case of the Fraudulent Binman
The truth began to unravel following an anonymous tip-off to the council, which alleged the worker, who was reporting as absent, was actually working as a security guard at a pub. This prompted a formal investigation by the council's fraud team.
We obtained CCTV footage of the employee performing the role of a door supervisor at the pub, clearly walking unaided, stated the official council report. The investigation was subsequently widened, with officers capturing further video evidence of the man walking around the shops, driving his car and playing football.
When confronted with the overwhelming evidence during an interview, the employee chose to resign from his position in the waste services department. The council noted that its investigation likely prevented a significant personal injury claim from being lodged against the authority.
A Wider Pattern of Council Fraud
This case was highlighted in Birmingham City Council's annual counter fraud report, presented to the audit committee in November 2025. John Preston, the council's group auditor for corporate fraud, confirmed this was not an isolated incident.
In the last year, his team received 135 referrals about internal fraud. At least one case resulted in a criminal prosecution, involving a manager who diverted invoice payments into his personal bank account.
In a separate example, an employee in the city operations directorate continued to receive a 'night working allowance' they were no longer entitled to by submitting forged payslips to their manager. Disciplinary action was taken as a result.
Fraud in the Context of the Bins Dispute
The revelation comes at a sensitive time for the city's waste service. Many staff are currently involved in a long-running bins strike, which has disrupted collections across Birmingham since the start of the year.
The council has stated it needs to transform a service plagued by poor management, high rates of missed collections, and a woeful recycling record. However, proposed changes to pay and working conditions have been fiercely opposed by the Unite union.
This case underscores the broader threat of fraud to public services. Fraud is estimated to account for 40% of all crime in the UK. The Public Sector Fraud Authority estimates that a minimum of £33 billion per year is lost to fraud and error across the public sector.
