Long term benefit thief caught by chance

Charles Charlton, from Kirkby, has admitted defrauding Ashfield District Council of £7,145 by failing to declare income from a private pension while claiming benefits which had paid his rent and Council Tax since 2002.

Council bosses say Charlton's claim for benefit had been running continuously for several years before December 2008 — when a council official visited his home to conduct a benefit review. During the visit, Charlton said he had been receiving a private pension, but did not elaborate.

The council's fraud investigations team made a request for the pension details and when Charlton was interviewed he said he understood that all income was relevant to his benefit. But he had made dishonest representations on six occasions on benefit claim forms and review forms where he was asked to declare all of his income.

He was ordered to repay the money and given a 12 month community punishment order.

• Ashfield's Fraud Investigations Team has identified fraudulent claims totalling more than £224,000 so far this financial year.