A Brighton man has admitted four charges of fraudulently claiming housing benefit and council tax benefit.
Patrick Stoney, 62, of Edward Street, Brighton, was fined £200 for each offence, making £800 in total.
Unemployed Stoney was also ordered to pay £1,600 legal costs and a £15 victim support charge, leaving him with a £2,415 in all.
Councillor Ayas Fallon Khan, a member of the cabinet on Brighton and Hove City Council, said: “It’s outrageous that people selfishly claim taxpayers’ money when they don’t qualify and don’t really need it.
“Yet again we have successfully uncovered someone who was claiming benefits falsely.
“Every day we are getting better and better at tracking down these cheats.”
I’d like to make one thing clear. The £15 charge was not a ‘victim support charge’ – that suggests the money comes directly to Victim Support (the charity). This payment is actually called the ‘victim surcharge’ and goes directly to government to create a fund which is distributed to a range of organisations which help victims.