A CLIFTON man has been found guilty of falsely claiming thousands of pounds of benefits.
Peter Wilding, of Bilberry Road, pleaded guilty to submitting a benefit claim to Central Bedfordshire Council (CBC) in which he failed to disclose that he receives an occupational monthly pension and had previously received a lump sum of over �16,000.
The 59-year-old also pleaded guilty to knowingly failing to declare an increase in his income between October 2007 and January 2009.
Withholding this information meant that he received Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit he was not entitled to.
Mr Wilding will have to repay the �8,346 Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit he received unlawfully.
CBC Cllr Richard Wenham, said: “This investigation clearly shows we will not tolerate abuse of the benefits system and will take appropriate action against those who do try to make a fraudulent claim.”
CBC’s confidential fraud hotline 0300 3005557 is open 24 hours a day, for anyone who suspects someone might be claiming benefits fraudulently.
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