Tap on the wrist for Southend benefit thief

A benefits cheat has been ordered to pay back £8,000 to the taxpayer.

Raymond Shutts, 57, from Southend, was granted housing and council tax benefits after telling Southend Council he was receiving incapacity benefit.

However, he then kept quiet about receiving a lump sum payment of between £14,000 to £18,000, meaning the council shelled out £8,000 more than was owed.

Shutts, who admitted benefit fraud, was told to return the money, pay £50 in legal costs and given an 18-month conditional discharge when he appeared at Southend Magistrates’ Court.

• Benefit thieves do it for the money. They should know they will have to pay back twice what they stole, and that they will get no benefits until they have. A confiscation order should be made immediately.
  
  Any benefit thieves who don't go to prison should also have to do community service.