A COUNCILLOR who was convicted of benefit fraud after been seen repairing aerials on a roof today got the backing of his party.

Liberal Democrat Paul Edmondson pleaded guilty at Blackburn Magistrates last week to four charges of making a false statement to obtain benefit. He was given a 12 month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £250 costs.

The 49-year-old of Hollin Street, Blackburn, who represents Queens Park ward on Blackburn with Darwen Council, is considering appealing against the decision.

The offences related to a time when he was receiving incapacity benefit and was seen working with fellow Liberal Democrat, Coun Paul Browne, who has an aerial erection business in Darwen.

Party spokesman Coun David Foster said: "The Liberal Democrats are anxious to maintain the highest standards in public life. If this had been a case where a councillor had deliberately defrauded the system there would have been no question -- we would have asked for his resignation.

"In this case Coun Edmonsdon has been more a victim of the system. At no stage did he deliberately try and defraud the DSS and there was never any suggestion, nor was any evidence presented that he had been paid."

Mr Foster explained that his party would be looking into the way the Social Security system works following the case.

He added: "This highlights the complexity of the Social Security system and we will be making suggestions to how it can be improved so that other people are not put in the same unfortunate position."

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