By . Paul Donnelley . A Morris dancer who falsely claimed more than £28,000 in benefits after saying he was barely able to walk has escaped jail. Allan Baldwin, of Lockerbie in Scotland said that from 2008 until 2013 he had extreme difficulty in walking and claimed the highest rate of Disability Living Allowance. Today at Preston Crown Court he was sentenced to nine months in prison, suspended for 18 months, and order to perform 200 hours of unpaid work. There was no order for costs and he did not have to pay a victim surcharge. Scroll down for video. Allan Baldwin (right) was a Morris dancer despite claiming that he could barely walk. He escaped jail with a suspended sentence . Baldwin was a member of the Solway Morris Group and although is primary function was a musician, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) obtained footage showing that he also took part in the dancing. In addition, the investigation established that various events the group took part in would have involved him walking for several miles. Baldwin (in white shirt) claimed that he had difficulty in walking but still managed to attend gigs that required him to walk several miles . Benefit cheat Allan Baldwin seems to have no difficulty moving here despite claiming the highest level of disability benefit . Allan Baldwin (in the white shirt with the straggly hair) narrowly escaped jail today when he was given a suspended sentence at Preston Crown Court today . Baldwin pleaded guilty to the offence at a previous hearing at Preston Crown Court on June 16. Jane Baker, DWP Fraud Manager in the North West, said: 'It is our duty to ensure that benefit payments go to those who really need them and we are committed to cracking down on those who play the system. Our welfare reforms are vital to close the gaps that cheats take advantage of. 'It is unfair that some people get support when they do not have a disability, while many people depend on the benefits system to provide a safety net. 'Deliberately not informing us of a change in your condition that may affect your claim is a crime.' Allan Baldwin (left in white shirt) said that from 2008 until 2013 he had extreme difficulty in walking and claimed the highest rate of Disability Living Allowance .
Allan Baldwin, of Lockerbie, said he had extreme difficulty in walking from 2008 to 2013 .
Jailed for nine months, sentence suspended for 18 months .
Ordered to do 200 hours of unpaid work; no order made for costs .
Some of the gigs involved Baldwin walking for several miles .
By . Paul Donnelley . A Morris dancer who falsely claimed more than £28,000 in benefits after saying he was barely able to walk has escaped jail. Allan Baldwin, of Lockerbie in Scotland said that from 2008 until 2013 he had extreme difficulty in walking and claimed the highest rate of Disability Living Allowance. Today at Preston Crown Court he was sentenced to nine months in prison, suspended for 18 months, and order to perform 200 hours of unpaid work. There was no order for costs and he did not have to pay a victim surcharge. Scroll down for video. Allan Baldwin (right) was a Morris dancer despite claiming that he could barely walk. He escaped jail with a suspended sentence . Baldwin was a member of the Solway Morris Group and although is primary function was a musician, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) obtained footage showing that he also took part in the dancing. In addition, the investigation established that various events the group took part in would have involved him walking for several miles. Baldwin (in white shirt) claimed that he had difficulty in walking but still managed to attend gigs that required him to walk several miles . Benefit cheat Allan Baldwin seems to have no difficulty moving here despite claiming the highest level of disability benefit . Allan Baldwin (in the white shirt with the straggly hair) narrowly escaped jail today when he was given a suspended sentence at Preston Crown Court today . Baldwin pleaded guilty to the offence at a previous hearing at Preston Crown Court on June 16. Jane Baker, DWP Fraud Manager in the North West, said: 'It is our duty to ensure that benefit payments go to those who really need them and we are committed to cracking down on those who play the system. Our welfare reforms are vital to close the gaps that cheats take advantage of. 'It is unfair that some people get support when they do not have a disability, while many people depend on the benefits system to provide a safety net. 'Deliberately not informing us of a change in your condition that may affect your claim is a crime.' Allan Baldwin (left in white shirt) said that from 2008 until 2013 he had extreme difficulty in walking and claimed the highest rate of Disability Living Allowance .
jail. Allan Baldwin, of Lockerbie in Scotland said that from 2008 until 2013 he had extreme difficulty in walking and claimed the highest months in prison, suspended for 18 months, and order to perform 200 hours of unpaid work. There involved him walking for several miles. Baldwin