A JOBLESS 58-year-old man, who got "greedy" and carried on claiming benefits after finding work, has been jailed for six months.

Burnley Crown Court heard how the DSS overpaid Harry Wright by almost £7,400 and how he got housing and council tax benefit of almost £4,000, to which he was not entitled.

Sentencing the defendant, who was of previous good character, Judge David Pirie said he had been deliberately dishonest for more than two years, and was substantially overpaid.

He said what began as a legitimate claim for assistance, when Wright was out of work, became fraudulent when he got employment, but he accepted the cash was not used for the basics of living.

Judge Pirie said although the money involved in the council tax and housing benefits claims was not included in the charges, it had been included in the background of the case and it would not be appropriate for the council to take further action. Wright, of Ada Street, Burnley, admitted five counts of false accounting and had been committed for sentence by the Pennine Magistrates. He asked for 40 offences to be considered. The offences were committed between 1996 and 1998.

Katherine Pierpoint, defending, said Wright was realistic and aware the court could pass a custodial sentence.

The defendant was not a professional fraudster who made it his business to get money from the DSS, but a 58-year-old who had worked most of his life and suffered a substantial cut in income.

The claims, legitimate at the start, became dishonest when Wright failed to inform the DSS of his change in circumstances. He accepted he had been wrong to do so and pleaded guilty at the first opportunity.

Ms Pierpoint said the defendant's pre-sentence report stated that Wright accepted by taking the money he was being greedy, but the cash was not to fund a luxurious lifestyle.

Wright was now working and his job would stay open to him if he kept his freedom.

She added the defendant had paid back a total of £675, some of which was towards the money overpaid in housing benefit, even though he earned less than £100 per week.

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