Belangeni Musumbu from North London, who claimed he was unable to work due to a back injury but was filmed lifting heavy boxes and performing at a music festival

A postman who attempted to claim £300,000 compensation after saying a workplace accident left him crippled has been jailed after being caught on camera lifting heavy boxes and performing at a music festival.

Belangeni Musumbu, 47, from Muswell Hill, North London, claimed he had severe pain in his spine, which left him unable to walk without a stick or get dressed without the help of his wife.

But his two-year scam was uncovered after investigators heard about his appearance playing the bongos and guitar at the Rainforest World Music Festival in Malaysia.

They then filmed him on camera driving, shopping and lifting heavy boxes.

At the time, Musumbu had already been dismissed by the Royal Mail for ill health, receiving a £23,000 pay off.

He was also in line for a potential £292,925 civil payout from insurance company Esure, taking into account rehabilitation costs and loss of past and future earnings.

The Old Bailey heard Musumbu had worked for Royal Mail for ten years when he was injured in the accident in Finchley on December 10, 2010.

He was unloading parcels in the snow when another car skidded and crashed into his van.

Musumbu was pinned by the sliding door and had to be freed by members of the public.

A doctor found him unfit to work because of soft tissue injuries and Musumbu claimed for damages against the Royal Mail.

He was also paid an interim £1,000 by Esure, the insurance company for the other driver.

Then in December 2011 he was driving his Saab when he was hit from behind by another car at traffic lights.

Musumbu claimed that the accident aggravated the pre-existing injuries and told a doctor he was unable to work.

Prosecutor Timothy Devlin said: ‘Research revealed that while he had been off work he had been in Malaysia in July 2012 taking part in the Rainforest World Music Festival.

‘He was in fact one of the performing artists.

After investigators found that he had performed at a music festival they secretly filmed him lifting heavy boxes in and out of his car

Musumbu, pictured, had claimed that he could only walk with the aid of a walking stick and required the help of his wife to get dressed

‘The insurers instigated two days covert surveillance on him. He was seen moving without restriction, carrying a very hefty-looking box.

‘He was not suffering any of the difficulties he claimed to be suffering.’

'Musumbu claimed he was in intense pain and confined to his own environment

‘He said he was unable to dress himself or lower himself into the bath and his driving was restricted to medical appointments only.’

Musumbu had already been dismissed by the Royal Mail for ill health, receiving a £23,000 pay off, when he was filmed carrying shopping bags and a guitar case

After watching surveillance videos of Musumbu, medical experts concluded that he was not in pain and did not appear to be disabled

Esure then instructed their detectives to carry out another two days of surveillance in October 2012 and captured him walking without a stick, shopping and carrying a guitar case over his shoulder.

At his appointment with a medical expert appointed for the civil claim, Musumbu arrived with a walking stick and insisted he had not driven for a year.

Investigators began surveillance on Musumbu, pictured, after they heard that he appeared at a music festival in Malaysia playing the guitar and bongos

Musumbu said he needed help from his wife dressing and undressing and even asked the doctor to undress him for the examination.

The doctor later watched the surveillance videos and concluded he was not disabled and did not appear to be in pain.

Esure had put aside a total of £292,925 including £45,000 in loss of past earnings, £152 in loss of future earnings and £15,000 in loss of pension.

Mr Devlin said that the total figure he actually received from Royal Mail and Esure in relation to the supposed disability was £24,548.50.

Musumbu pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud by false representation last month and was jailed for 18 months.

His barrister Edward Jones said that Musumbu was advised that he would probably only get a payout of £17,750.

Mr Jones added: ‘He had worked diligently for the Royal Mail for some ten years prior to the accident. He was actually in a very nasty accident.’

Musumbu, was ordered to pay £24,527.45 in compensation to Royal Mail and Esure within the next 14 days.

The court heard this money will be deducted from his £80,000 pension pot with Royal Mail.

Judge Stephen Kramer QC told Musumbu he had to go to prison ‘both as a punishment and a deterrent to others.’

The judge added: ‘You deliberately exaggerated your injuries and pain to claim significant compensation.

‘Your behaviour over several years was financially motivated.