A 53-YEAR-OLD man continued to claim benefits despite working as a relief chef.

Blackburn magistrates heard Gary Smith travelled all over the country, sleeping in his camper van when required.

And in a 27-month period he received £22,000 of benefits he was not entitled to.

Smith, of Whalley Road, Clitheroe, pleaded guilty to dishonestly failing to notify a change of circumstances which affected his entitlement to housing benefit and employment support allowance. He was made subject to a community order for 12 months with a 25-day rehabilitation activity requirement and ordered to do 150 hours’ unpaid work and pay £85 costs and £85 victim surcharge.

Scott Parker, defending, said his client had gone through a difficult period in his life when debt problems caught up with him. He became homeless and ended up living in a hostel where he started receiving visits from debt collectors.

At one stage he was unable to open his mail for fear it was from debt agencies.

“Mental health problems took hold and he simply buried his head in the sand,” said Mr Parker. “He will be repaying the money probably for the rest of his life.”