Blind Man Reported for Being ’Too Good’ at Darts
Local Editor
Visually-impaired Robert Boon, 50, said he was stunned to discover a member of the public had reported him after organizing a 10-hour charity darts event.
A blind man who held a charity marathon darts event was investigated over benefit fraud because he was too good.
Robert Boon - who was visually-impaired - organized a ten-hour arrow throw to raise £500 to buy two guide dogs.
Boon was registered blind as he was completely blind in one eye and only able to see shadows in the other.
He scored an impressive 61,000 points on the night by standing and playing darts on his own for ten hours. Boon said due to the repetitive action of dart throwing he was able to maintain some degree of accuracy.
But shortly after the event he was called to a meeting by the Department for Work and Pensions to assess his eligibility to claim benefits.
He was stunned to discover a member of the public had reported him - claiming someone that good at darts could not possibly be blind.
Robert Boon, of Paignton, Devon, said: "I got a letter saying I had to attend a meeting. I felt humiliated because I don't think it is right to report me when I have tried to do something good. I rang the hospital to get my medical records on my eye condition."
The DWP had confirmed that after an investigation it did not intent to cut Boon's benefits.
A spokesman said: "It's only right that we investigate a person's benefit claim when we receive information that suggests they may not be entitled."
Boon held the charity event at Pond Coffee Shop in Paignton as part of a larger fundraising drive to raise £10,000 so he could buy two guide dogs.
Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team
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