Benefit cheater was on £600pw

9:13am Sunday 7th January 2007

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A BENEFIT cheat who was earning up to £600 a week has been sentenced after falsely claiming money from a council.

Colin White, of Lullingstone Avenue, Swanley, pleaded guilty at Sevenoaks Magistrates' Court to two charges of falsely claiming financial assistance.

The 44-year-old submitted a benefit claim to Sevenoaks District Council in November 2005 declaring he worked as a lorry driver earning £100 per week.

As part of the claim, White supplied payslips to the council showing his weekly income.

The council awarded him housing benefit and council tax benefit because of his low income.

White received more than £745 in housing and council tax benefits.

But the council's fraud and interventions team found the payslips he had supplied were false and he was actually earning between £400 and £600 a week.

Benefit payments were immediately stopped and White was interviewed by council officers.

During the interview White admitted making false declarations on his benefit claim form and providing false payslips to the council.

At Sevenoaks Magistrates' Court on January 2, White was given a conditional discharge of 12 months for each offence and ordered to pay £75 costs.

White has already repaid the £193 council tax benefit he had been given and is making repayments towards the £551 housing benefit he owes.

Cabinet member with responsibility for finance Councillor Brian Ramsay said: "The person concerned now has a criminal record.

"This could affect his credit rating, insurance premiums and job prospects.

"It should serve as a warning to anyone thinking about making illegal benefit claims."

If residents have any information relating to benefit fraud, they can call Sevenoaks District Council's 24-hour confidential benefit fraud hotline on 01732 227445.