When John failed to attend court later in July 2024 a warrant was issued for his arrest.
On arrival to the custody suite, he again appeared unresponsive and had his eyes closed, but CCTV footage inside his cell showed him “wriggling in his chair to slide off it” and reaching for a drink once the officer left the cell.
The brothers, of Bolam Drive in Ashington, were both charged with perverting the course of justice on 28 July last year.
John was described as being in a “comatose state” but just a day later he was back in the Northern Social Club getting out of his wheelchair and walking around.
The pair failed to attend Leicester Crown Court and a warrant for their arrest was issued.
On learning of the arrest warrant, James called for an ambulance for his brother and claimed he had fallen unwell on 14 August and could not walk.
The court heard that eight days later John was filmed on CCTV climbing the stairs of Leicester Crown Court on his hands and knees.
He pleaded guilty to all counts the following month.
In mitigation, Jamie Adams said John had learning disabilities, with conditions such as epilepsy and autism, and described him as “a very vulnerable and very disadvantaged human being”.
Meanwhile, Nicholas Peacock said James was in a “generationally dysfunctional family who largely survived on the benefits system”.