Benefit cheat ‘had £30k in savings’

John Taylor, of High Street, claimed council tax benefit and job seeker’s allowance when he was made redundant but failed to declare the true extent of his savings which would have made him ineligible, Lincoln Magistrates’ Court heard.

Taylor received £1,923.32 in council tax benefit and £4,669.85 in job seekers allowance he was not entitled to.

The council tax overpayment has been repaid.

Taylor was sentenced to a one year community order, he will have to do 160 hours of unpaid work, pay £100 costs and repay the remaining overpayment within 42 days.

The court was told that during an investigation by West Lindsey Council a data match operation with Inland Revenue records showed that the amount of interest paid into his bank account showed that it was highly probable that Taylor had more savings than he had declared.

When interviewed Taylor said the money belonged to his father but further enquiries showed he was the only person with access to the account.