Shropshire Star

Shropshire benefits cheat failed to disclose £62,000 . . . but bought sports car

A benefits cheat from Shropshire falsely claimed nearly £9,000 while using his own money to buy a flash sports car, a court heard.

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Andrew Murray Mills admitted three counts of falsely claiming housing benefits and council tax relief when he appeared at Telford Magistrates Court.

Mills had failed to inform the Shropshire Council of a £62,000 lump sum he had received as a result of selling his home following a divorce, said Mr Mike Davies, prosecuting on behalf of the authority.

The defendant had made his first claim for benefits on August 16, 2011.

He had only provided the authorities with one bank account that contained £30, said Mr Davies.

However, following the sale of a jointly-owned property, the defendant received £62,000 into another account on September 10, 2012.

But he failed to notify the relevant authorities of the change, the court heard.

Mr Davies told the court that Mills, of Batchcott Hall Barns, Church Stretton, had used the money to buy a Mazda MX5.

"He still suggested he was just about living on the amount received," said Mr Davies.

Mr Davies said that the defendant never volunteered the information, even after the council began making enquiries after it received details about his means.

"His belief at the time was that he didn't have enough money anyway and therefore this was something he could dip into when he needed it," said Mr Davies.

He described Mills as having his "head in the sand".

Council officers interviewed Mills in February when he had given confusing accounts about his situation before finally admitting the existence of the second account, the magistrates court was told.

The total over-payment of housing benefit and council tax relief received by Mills was calculated at £8,768.

Magistrates said that their hands were tied by Mills' poor health which prevented him from receiving a community punishment.

Mills, a man of previous good character with no previous convictions, was given a two-year conditional discharge.

He was also ordered to pay costs of £250 and a victim surcharge of £15 at Friday's hearing.

For Mills, Mr Jamie Wade said the defendant had already paid back £3,413 and was continuing to make repayments.

Mr Wade said that Mills' initial claim had been genuine.

He said Mills had been left with no income following the breakdown of his marriage.

"Although he's not familiar with the benefits system, he knows he should have really told them and he didn't," said Mr Wade.

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