Benefits cheat given curfew and costs order

A 58-year-old man from Cornwall has been handed a ten-week community order after admitting a £6,000 benefit fraud.

John Pillman, of Trezela Road, Penzance, pleaded guilty at Truro Magistrates' Court on Monday to two counts of failing to promptly report to Cornwall Council that he was in paid employment.

He fraudulently received housing benefit and council tax benefit totalling £6,186.

He was sentenced to a community order with a curfew from 7pm to 7am on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. He was also ordered to pay £300 towards prosecution costs.

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The overpaid benefits will be recovered by Cornwall Council separately.

In a separate case heard by magistrates on Friday, Lynda McClary, of Gloucester Road, Newlyn, received a two-year conditional discharge for housing benefit, council tax benefit and income support fraud.

McClary, 41, admitted five counts of failing to promptly report the authorities that she was in receipt of student income.

The overpaid benefits, totalling £8,251, are being recovered by Cornwall Council and the Department for Work and Pensions.