Philip David Jeffries, 56, of Summersdeane, Southwick, was ordered to complete 80 hours' unpaid work and pay costs of £250 when he appeared at Worthing Magistrates' Court on Monday, September 29.

Jeffries fraudulently claimed £3,511.61 in housing and council tax benefit and was prosecuted after failing to inform Adur District Council his circumstances had changed and he was working.

The court heard that on July 25, 2006, Jeffries applied for housing and council tax benefit saying he was unemployed and on incapacity benefit.

In December of that year he completed a review form claiming he was still unemployed and receiving Jobseekers Allowance.

In February this year, as a result of enquires into his council tax, the council received a letter from a company called Blue Pointer in Bristol, indicating Jeffries was working for them.

The company confirmed that he had been employed by them since July 2007.

It also came to light that he had worked for Sainsburys from March 15, 2007, to April 28, 2007.

Adur council's cabinet member for improved customer service, Julie Searle, said: "Claiming benefits fraudulently like this is just greedy, another case of someone lining their own pockets at tax payers expense.

"If someone is claiming benefits they must tell us if their circumstances change. The longer the fraud goes on, the heavier the punishment."

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