LEE Fawcett was Britain’s sole fencing representative at this summer’s Paralympic Games in Beijing. Hotly tipped for a medal, he ultimately finished in 11th place.

No doubt he was hoping to do better in London 2012, but today his dreams are in tatters after a conviction for benefit fraud.

Fawcett was exploiting a loophole in the law which states that a disabled person may purchase a car for personal use VAT-free provided it is adapted for their use.

The exact amounts he made from his actions may never be known, but investigators discovered nearly £8m deposited in his bank account over a two-anda- half year period.

Incredibly, Fawcett was not hauled before a court for the VAT scam, but for the lesser offence of falsely claiming benefits whilst secretly making a fortune as an executive car salesman.

Fawcett’s mitigation was that he thought he was doing nothing wrong and the law on VAT-free motoring seems to be a grey area.

The case has highlighted the fact that people can save a large amount of money for a small outlay on a relatively modest adaptation to their cars.

Perhaps the VAT saving should be limited to the cost of the adaptation – at a stroke eliminating the temptation to buy a top-of-the-range car and sell it on.

A car opens up new horizons for a disabled person otherwise dependent on others for their mobility.

Things once hard to accomplish, such as a trip to the shops, a visit to friends or even a doctor’s appointment, become so much easier with a car.

For some disabled people, the ability to drive is the difference between going into full-time employment or staying at home.

But no one – able-bodied or disabled – is above the law and this is an area in urgent need of Government scrutiny.