A FORMER firefighter claimed his home had been burgled and then submitted a false claim through his insurance company.

Daylon Fermin-Romano admitted charges of fraud and wasting police time.

Kirklees magistrates heard the Crosland Moor man’s life had spiralled out of control after he was forced to leave his job with the fire service. The 38-year-old had suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder after watching children burn to death.

Vanessa Schofield, prosecuting, said that on December 5 police were called to Fermin-Romano’s home in Church Street.

He reported that a burglary had taken place and that some of his property had been stolen.

However, police were not convinced by his claims when they arrived.

Ms Schofield said: “There were certain things they found there that made them suspicious that it hadn’t occurred.

“Mr Fermin-Romano had taken out an insurance policy on the day or the day before he made the report to police.

“When police attended they noticed things like the dust on the window sills had not been disturbed.”

Fermin-Romano told police that his laptop and iPad had been stolen in the raid.

The prosecutor said that although he did have a fire service-issued laptop, he never had an iPad to be stolen.

Magistrates were told that Fermin-Romano contacted his home insurers NatWest.

He over-inflated the value of the laptop, stating that it was worth £850 when the true value was £150.

Ms Schofield said: “Police contacted the NatWest and said they were suspicious about the burglary.

“As a result of this no money was paid out to him.”

Asif Abubaker, mitigating, said his client maintained that a burglary had taken place at his home.

He admitted that his claim for the laptop was a lot higher than its worth and fabricating the existence of the other item.

The solicitor said he was under the influence of drugs and alcohol at the time he made his claims.

He told the bench that Fermin-Romano was not a normal defendant.

Magistrates heard that he had worked for the fire service in Suffolk for 16 years. He left the service four years ago and moved back to live with his family in Huddersfield.

Mr Abubaker said: “He suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder.

“He saw children burning alive when he was in the service and that created real problems for him psychologically.

“In another incident he was electrocuted and suffered from seizures and blackouts.

“As a result he was not fit enough to continue in the service he had been in since he was a school leaver.”

Magistrates heard that at the same time his long-term relationship also broke down.

There was also some friction within his family upon his return.

Mr Abubaker said: “Everything he knows he has lost and he has turned to alcohol.

“He’s had a torrid time. He’s been a public servant and unfortunately has got himself into this situation.”

The solicitor said that Fermin-Romano was now trying to get his life back on track and was taking special drugs to prevent him from drinking.

Magistrates gave him a community order with a curfew for five weeks.

They also ordered him to pay £85 costs and £60 victim surcharge.