A Woolwich pensioner has been sentenced for fraud worth more than £14,000.

Sinniah Sivarajah was handed a 12 month community punishment order at Bexley Magistrates' Court on Tuesday (October 6).

Sivarajah was also ordered to undertake 120 hours unpaid work, pay cots of £100 and a victim surcharge of £60.

The 65-year-old pleaded guilty to one offence relating to £14,074.38 in overpaid housing benefit from 2007 until 2012.

Sivarajah falsely declared he had no bank accounts, and declared he worked part-time at an off-license earning £80 a week.

MORE TOP STORIES An investigation uncovered several bank accounts, which had more than £125,000 moving through them over a period of five years.

He claimed his friends used his accounts and he had not accessed them for years.

But the banks confirmed he had himself written and signed recent cheques from the accounts.

Coun Maureen O’Mara, member for customer services, said: “This case involves the loss of over £14,000, a significant sum and money that is needed by so many people in genuine need within our borough.

“Mr Sivarajah now has a criminal record and I am pleased to hear that every penny of the money he defrauded will now have to be repaid.”

If you suspect someone of committing fraud against the royal borough please call 0800 169 6975.