A 53 year old Harlow man who claimed nearly £40,000 in benefits he was not entitled to has been spared jail.
Ian McLernon was given a six-month jail term suspended for two years at Chelmsford Crown Court after pleading guilty to failing to notify the authorities of a change of circumstances. He was also banned from driving for six months.
The court heard that he committed two offences relating to income support and one of housing and council tax after failing to declare his wife had gone back to work.
Prosecutor Nasra Butt said the total amount of money involved was £39,453, and told the court the offences were committed between February 2006 and October 2009.
And it's just come to court.
Although there was a dispute about how much had been repaid, Robert James, mitigating, said McLernon had been doing so and referred to his client's "poor health".
Sentencing the defendant, Judge Anthony Goldstaub told him: "In view of your poor health there are other means than prison to punish you.
"Prison would be another expense on the public purse - you'll be disqualified from driving for six months."
The judge also ordered McLernon to attend intensive community sentence scheme The Bridge Project for 30 days.
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