Broxtowe Borough Council has successfully prosecuted another benefit cheat this month after a Brinsley man was caught by a data matching exercise with other agencies.
Stewart Purdy failed to declare a significant amount which he held in an account whilst claiming council tax benefit and housing benefit for a period of nine years from the year 2002 to 2011. In all, over £28,000 was overpaid to Mr Purdy.
In mitigation, Mr Purdy's solicitor stated that he had never been in trouble before, that he was of an advanced age and had not known about the account which he had failed to declare.
He had not benefited from the fraud and had repaid all sums owing back to the Council.
As a first offence for the defendant, the magistrates, taking into account the size of the original overpayment and Mr Purdy's mitigation, decided to give Mr Purdy a six month community order with a four month curfew attached to it.
Mr Purdy will not be permitted to leave his home between 9.00pm in the evening and 8.00am in the morning. The Council's full costs of the prosecution were paid.
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