A Big Issue seller from Plumstead narrowly avoided jail after pleading guilty to benefit fraud.

Robert Dumitru, 35, was handed a 16 month suspended prison sentence for falsely claiming £60,000 in housing and council tax from 2010 to April this year.

The father of eight said he was a single parent whose sole income came from a painting and decorating job, making just under £4,000 a year.

Dumitru, from Ancona Road, also told the council he only had one bank account.

But an investigation discovered he in fact had three bank accounts, one of which was in Romania.

During the time he claimed benefits, £105,000 went into the accounts and he had transferred over £67,000 into a Romanian account.

MORE TOP STORIES When interviewed he said the money came from his job selling the Big Issue, and the money he sent to Romania was used by his children when they went on holiday there.

He also claimed his partner had returned to live with him the day before the interview.

After pleading guilty to two couunts of fraud totalling £60,058.80 he was sentenced at Woolwich Crown Court earlier this month.

His 16 month prison sentence was suspended for two years, and he was ordered to do 200 hours unpaid work.

He must repay the full amount and pay court costs of £1,399.

Greenwich Coun Maureen O'Mara said: "Mr Dumitru's greed and selfishness have earned him a criminal record."