Chorley benefit cheat had four jobs (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Chorley benefit cheat had four jobs

4:39pm Tuesday 12th January 2010 in

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A Chorley man who claimed benefits because he was too ill to work, had four cleaning jobs, a court has heard.

Andrew Brown, 56, of Buckshaw Hall Close, Astley Village, pleaded guilty at Chorley Magistrates Court to fraudulently obtaining more than £6,000 in benefits.

The extra cash was claimed in housing benefit, council tax benefit and incapacity benefit.

He had claimed housing benefit and council tax benefit on the basis that he was too ill to work and that his only source of income was his incapacity benefit.

But he failed to disclose to Chorley Council and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) that he had obtained employment as a cleaner.

Chorley magistrates were told that the case came to light when it was found that he had advertised his cleaning company on a website.

An investigation revealed he had three cleaning jobs with Lancashire County Council and during his interview under caution, he admitted he had also worked as cleaner for a building company.

Councillor Kevin Joyce, Chorley Council’s Executive Member (Resources) said: "Although this case came to light by chance, the result for Mr Brown is a criminal record and a large overpayment to repay.

"This is another excellent example of investigators from the Council and the DWP working together to put a stop to benefit fraud."

Magistrates took into account that he was now back on benefits and sentenced him to a two-year conditional discharge and no award for costs was made.

Steps are being taken to recover the overpayment in full.