A REDDITCH man who pleaded guilty to dishonestly claiming benefits totalling £7,499 has been given a 12-month community order with 60 hours of unpaid work.

Michael Fitzpatrick, aged 71, of Northleach Close, Church Hill was sentenced by Redditch Magistrates Court on November 19.

He pleaded guilty to dishonestly claiming housing benefit and council tax benefit between May 2011 and May 2014 by failing to declare the true extent of his savings.

The investigation began as a result of a data match that matches electronic data within local authorities and Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) to prevent and detect fraud.

Magistrates said that his sentence would have been greater had he not entered an early guilty plea and that had already made arrangements with the council to repay the money fraudulently obtained.

He was also ordered to pay prosecution costs of £100.

A spokesperson for Redditch Council said: “Anybody making a claim for benefit is making a legal declaration that they have declared their true circumstances.

“This case demonstrates the importance of doing so and the consequences of failing to.”

Anybody wishing to report a case of suspected benefit fraud can do so by ringing the investigation team during office hours on 01527 534011 or by emailing as much information as possible to benefitsfraud@redditchbc.gov.uk