Man handed court order for £6,000 benefit fraud

A Powys man who dishonestly obtained £6,000 in benefits has been given a community order. Matthew Anthony Brown, 37, claimed between February 2005 and March last year.

He admitted the charge on May 7, but appeared at Welshpool Magistrates Court yesterday, for sentencing.

As well as the three-month order, Brown was also given a curfew between 8pm and 7am for the next three months and ordered to pay £250 costs.

Mr Nigel Vaughan, prosecuting on behalf of Powys County Council, said Brown, of Meillionydd, Adfa, near Newtown had falsely claimed the benefits between February 6, 2005 and March 4, 2007.

Mr Vaughan said Brown and his wife made an application for help with their rent, which they claimed they were paying to a man from Chelmsford, Essex, and council tax, which was received by the council on February 16, 2005.

The application was approved and the couple began receiving the benefits.

When the couple came to renewing their application for benefits with the council, an officer investigated and found that the house they were living at had been bought by Brown’s wife.

The officer also investigated the address of the Chelmsford man and found that Brown’s brother lived at the address.

Mr Vaughan said that Brown was subsequently interviewed and admitted that he should have kept the council fully updated as to his personal circumstances.

He also said that Brown had already begun paying back the £6,000.

Ms Louise Shaunessey, for Brown, said he had a previously clean record.