A pensioner has been given a suspended jail sentence for a £12,000 benefits fraud.
Keith Brewer (69), of Curzon Avenue, Ibstock, was overpaid £10,074.26 in housing benefit and £2,039.89 in council tax benefit.
He pleaded guilty on October 3 at Leicester Magistrates' Court to two counts of fraud after lying to council officers about his pension arrangements.
He was given a six-month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, plus 150 hours of unpaid work.
Prosecutor Dave Gill, on behalf of North West Leicestershire District Council, said Brewer claimed housing benefit and council tax benefit from February 2009.
He said that on his original claim form, Brewer stated that he had just one small occupational pension of £13 a month.
At numerous points since 2009, Brewer had lied to council officers about his pension income, the court heard.
Brewer reached retirement age in July 2010 and his jobseeker's allowance claim ended.
He was interviewed by council officers and he said his only income was a state pension and that he only had one bank account.
A data match carried out on June 2013 revealed that Brewer was actually in receipt of two pensions from car giants BMW – one at £450 per month and one at £60 per month.
When Brewer was interviewed under caution in April, he provided evidence of an undeclared bank account, where the payments for the two previously undeclared pensions were being made.
In addition to a suspended prison sentence and unpaid work, Brewer was ordered to pay £984 in costs plus a £80 victim surcharge.
After the case, councillor Nick Rushton, corporate portfolio holder at North West Leicestershire District Council, said: "I cannot stress enough how important it is to declare all income, so that benefits can be assessed properly.
"Our benefits officers are there to help, and are very good at advising on the best way forward, but we expect honesty in return.
"This case proves that we take benefit fraud very seriously, and will pursue those who are dishonest."
For advice, visit: www.nwleics.gov.uk/benefits
