A benefit scrounging dad-of-nine who trousers £30,000 a year in state handouts was today branded ”lazy” and ”nothing more than a sperm donor” – by his own DAUGHTER.
Jobless Gary Bateman, 46, and partner Joanne Sheppard – who is pregnant with her 12th child – moved into a £300,000 five bedroom council house earlier this year.
The couple rake in a staggering £30,000 a year in benefits, including their £1,200 a month rent.
And yesterday even Gary’s own daughter, who is from a previous relationship, branded him ”lazy” and ”useless”.
Jessica Bateman, 18, who has had little contact with her dad after he walked out them when she was five, revealed how he splashes out up to £60 a time on MCDONALDS.
She said: ”I am so ashamed of him. That family seems to be living the life of Riley, when my family works hard to earn a living and can’t afford half of what they can.
”They go out for McDonald’s meals that cost £60 a go and yesterday one of Joanne’s daughters had a stretch limo ride for her 13th birthday.
”If my dad can ride that motorbike he has in his back garden then he can sit on a till somewhere. It is just pure laziness.”
Shop worker Jessica lives with her mother, stepfather and two brothers – which are also Mr Bateman’s children – and her half-sister in Bristol.
She slammed the news that Gary and his brood had been moved into a customised five-bedroom council house after complaining they had ‘outgrown’ their previous one.
Jessica added the family have ”wrecked” their new home and it now looks like a ”pig sty”, adding: ”His situation makes me so angry.
”For me to go out to work and pay taxes, for them to live the life they do it’s sickening.”
The jobless couple already have at least 14 children between them and moved into the £1,200-a-month house in January.
They receive hundreds in benefits every month by claiming £20.30 for their oldest child and £13.40 for their children up to the age of 18.
Gary also claims £89.80 a week incapacity benefits for a bad back – despite being exposed last year for taking part in off-road motocross biking.
He has five children with Joanne aged between three and 10, three with Jessica’s mother as well as an alleged illegitimate lovechild from a previous affair.
Joanne, 36, has six children from other relationships.
The couple complained last year that their previous three-bedroom council house in Yate, Bristol was too small for their growing family.
South Gloucestershire Council officials visited in October and agreed they were suffering from overcrowding and needed somewhere bigger to live.
But the main local social housing association, Merlin Housing Society, had no five-bedroom properties, so they were told to find a new home on the private market to be paid for by housing benefit, a council spokesman said.
Gary said: ”People need to keep their noses out of our business and people saying bad stuff about us should be shot.
”I want to work but I can’t. I haven’t ridden my bike since last year.
”A McDonald’s meal doesn’t cost that much, and the limo was paid for by my step-daughter’s father, not us.”
Joanne claimed her her family are being victimised by neighbours adding: ”We’re having another baby, so what? People ought to just leave me alone.
”I don’t care what people think of me.”
Joanne, who has not worked for 19 years since falling pregnant with her first child aged just 17, said: ”My job is looking after my kids until they are old enough to look after themselves. Then I will go out and get a job.
”I think looking after kids – especially two with ADHD – is the hardest job. If you stayed here and looked after my kids you would want to go straight back to work.”
Matthew Elliott, chief executive of campaign group the Tax Payers’ Alliance, said: ”It’s disgraceful that this family is being given more than taxpayers earn.
”Our benefits system needs real reform.”
A South Gloucestershire Council spokesman said: ”There are statutory obligations on all councils, that in certain circumstances, a family will be assessed to see if it requires a level of support and assistance.
”We note that the Government has recently announced proposed changes to the national system.”
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More proof that child benefit should be stopped after the 2nd child. Then if you want any more, you must find your own means to pay for them.
More proof that child benefit should be stopped after the 2nd child. Then if you want any more, you must find your own means to pay for them.
He may not be able to ride his bike but in all fairness, it's not motorbike riding that's created all of those kids. However, the 'riding' he's been doing still requires a healthy back. As for people who criticise him "needing to be shot" – What a great example he is to his kids – "Murder anyone who disagrees with you" being the sentiment. What a waste of space. I'm not suggesting he needs shooting, perhaps mandatory sterilisation and forced labour would be enough….
He may not be able to ride his bike but in all fairness, it's not motorbike riding that's created all of those kids. However, the 'riding' he's been doing still requires a healthy back. As for people who criticise him "needing to be shot" – What a great example he is to his kids – "Murder anyone who disagrees with you" being the sentiment. What a waste of space. I'm not suggesting he needs shooting, perhaps mandatory sterilisation and forced labour would be enough….
Cheers to the daughter who got work and escaped those two.
Cheers to the daughter who got work and escaped those two.