Posted on the 21st January 2026 in PHTM News

CABBIE FACING CAREER RUIN AFTER AMASSING £85K DURING DISHONEST BENEFIT CLAIM

A taxi driver who pocketed thousands of pounds in Universal Credit while sitting on a secret £85,000 "nest egg" has been sentenced to a community order and unpaid work.

Gergely Tomasovszky, 43, appeared at South Cumbria Magistrates’ Court where he pleaded guilty to dishonestly making a false statement to obtain benefit payments.

The court heard how the Burton-in-Kendal resident failed to declare a massive influx of capital while continuing to receive government support for over three years.

The court was told that Tomasovszky originally made a legitimate joint claim for Universal Credit in April 2020, declaring savings of £6,000 - well below the legal threshold of £16,000.

However, his financial circumstances shifted dramatically shortly thereafter.

Prosecutor Lee Dacre explained: “Over a period of months, the defendant amassed savings of £85,000 which was above the legal threshold limit of £16,000.

The declaration information stated the defendant had to contact the DWP straight away if there was a change in circumstances.”

Between April 2020 and July 2023, Tomasovszky wrongly claimed a total of £7,203.79. The DWP is currently working with the driver to recover the full amount.

Defence solicitor Trystan Roberts told the court that the money came from family members in Hungary and Poland. He noted that Tomasovszky was "fully ashamed of himself" and had no prior convictions.

“He was worried about [his family's] livelihoods during Covid,” Mr. Roberts said. “He put in a legitimate claim... but fairly soon after he came into capital... He did not declare the money and he should have done.”

The court heard that Tomasovszky has since been working grueling 70 to 80-hour weeks as a taxi driver to pay back the debt.

While Magistrates accepted that the driver was "not dishonest from the outset," his future in the taxi trade now hangs in the balance.

Mr. Roberts acknowledged the likely fallout from the conviction: “I suspect he will lose his taxi licence as a result of this conviction.

He is probably going to have to find other employment in due course. He will do that because he has a great worth ethic.”

Tomasovszky was handed a 12-month community order and ordered to complete 130 hours of unpaid work.

He was also ordered to pay £85 in court costs and a £114 victim surcharge.


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