Shropshire benefits cheat locked up

A 22-year-old north Shropshire benefit cheat was behind bars today after falsely claiming more than £1,000 that he was not entitled to.

Simon Morgan, of Sycamore Way, Market Drayton, appeared at Shrewsbury Magistrates Court yesterday.

He admitted two charges of failing to notify Shropshire Council of changes in his circumstances in order to obtain housing benefit and council tax benefit, by failing to declare two separate periods of work.

The court heard he falsely claimed £1,075.31 from the council, which is being recovered by officials.

Morgan was sentenced to 28 days' custody for each offence, to run concurrently with imprisonment for other offences for which he appeared before the court, and which totalled 112 days.

His case was investigated by Shropshire Council's benefits investigation team and the prosecution was brought by the council's legal services. Council chiefs today welcomed the outcome and warned benefit cheats they would be caught and forced to repay the money, which comes from public funds.

Bosses said in austere times, the prosecution show- ed benefit fraud was being taken seriously by Shirehall.

Council leader Keith Barrow said: "Housing benefit and council tax benefit are funded by the taxpayer and Shropshire Council has a duty to protect this money.

"It is important that we take benefit fraud very seriously, and won't hesitate to take legal action against those who try and defraud the benefits system which exists to help those in need."

He added Shropshire Council encourages people to contact its fraud hotline on 0345 678 9033 or the national benefit fraud hotline on 0800 328 6340 if they have any suspicions about benefit fraud being committed.