Benefits cheats ordered to undertake community work

Philip Salton (49) of Wall Cottage Drive, Chichester pleaded guilty at Worthing Magistrates Court to two charges of failing to notify Chichester District Council that he was undertaking self-employed work.

He received £5,470.23 Housing Benefit and £1,229.55 Council Tax Benefit to which he was not entitled.

Leslie Rowland (64) of Montague Rd, Chichester pleaded guilty to one charge of making a false representation to the council, as he did not declare all of the household savings.

He was overpaid £4,078.59 Housing Benefit and £1,249.83 Council Tax Benefit.

Mr Salton was sentenced by magistrates to undertake 80 hours unpaid work over a 12 month period. Mr Rowland was ordered to undertake 60 hours unpaid work over a 12 month period. Both were sentenced on Tuesday (3 January).

Councillor Tricia Tull, Cabinet Member for Finance, says: "Benefit fraud is a very serious crime and we will continue to prosecute those people guilty of it. All income and capital has to be declared, no matter what its source.

"The benefits system is there to help those most in need, not those who want to abuse it by claiming money they are not entitled to."

Chichester District Council will now take steps to recover the money.

If you suspect anyone of committing benefit fraud you can contact the council's investigation team on a confidential 24 hour fraud hotline number.

Date: 04 January 2012

Reference: 3047