ACCOUNTANCY student Anthony Thomas Peers went back to the well a second time after successfully pulling off a benefits fraud.

Blackburn magistrates heard that peers reported his Giro had not arrived and was sent a replacement by the Benefits Agency. And, having cashed both orders, he tried to repeat the fiddle two weeks later.

Peers, 28, of Bolton Road, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to two charges of making false representations to obtain benefit. He was fined £200 with £50 costs. Michael Singleton, prosecuting, said that on each occasion the second Giro was issued with clear instructions that the original was not to be cashed if it turned up. When interviewed Peers admitted that he had money problems and said that the ease with which he got the first replacement was "like printing his own."

Stephen Parker, defending, said Peers was a man of previous good character who had now lost his good name. He said Peers had enrolled on a university course in accountancy and finance and was currently completing college courses.