A BENEFIT cheat who fraudulently claimed more than £13,500 has appeared in court.

Ronald Rollason, 44, of Kinver Avenue in Kidderminster, pleaded guilty to six offences at the town's magistrates court.

The case followed an investigation by Wyre Forest District Council and the Department of Work and Pensions.

The court heard that Rollason claimed income support and benefits while working. As a result, between July, 2002 and December, 2003, he was overpaid £9,455.59 in income support, £3,223.80 in housing benefits and £861.41 in council tax benefits.

Magistrates sentenced Rollason to eight months in jail, which was suspended for two years. As well as paying back the monies, he was also ordered to pay £80 costs.

In a separate case, 51-year-old Patricia Taylor, of Dunclent Crescent in Kidderminster, was given a 60-hour community punishment order for wrongly claiming benefits.

Prosecuting for Wyre Forest District Council, Nicola Cummings told the court that, when filling in a council tax and housing benefit application form, Mrs Taylor had failed to disclose that her son, Steven, was in full-time paid employment.

She was overpaid £1,809.11 in benefits between February, 2003 and November, 2004.

Mrs Taylor will have to repay the full amount of overpaid benefit and magistrates also ordered her to pay £150 towards costs.

Councillor John Campion, the council's cabinet member for finance and corporate affairs, said: "These two cases again highlight our determination to tackle benefit fraud.

"We are fully committed to rooting out fraudulent claims and prosecute offenders, ensuring that they do not profit from a crime which has an impact on society as a whole."

Wyre Forest District Council has a confidential benefit fraud hotline for reports of suspected false claims, on 01562 732658.

A BENEFIT cheat who fraudulently claimed more than £13,500 has appeared in court.

Ronald Rollason, 44, of Kinver Avenue in Kidderminster, pleaded guilty to six offences at the town's magistrates court.

The case followed an investigation by Wyre Forest District Council and the Department of Work and Pensions.

The court heard that Rollason claimed income support and benefits while working. As a result, between July, 2002 and December, 2003, he was overpaid £9,455.59 in income support, £3,223.80 in housing benefits and £861.41 in council tax benefits.

Magistrates sentenced Rollason to eight months in jail, which was suspended for two years. As well as paying back the monies, he was also ordered to pay £80 costs.

In a separate case, 51-year-old Patricia Taylor, of Dunclent Crescent in Kidderminster, was given a 60-hour community punishment order for wrongly claiming benefits.

Prosecuting for Wyre Forest District Council, Nicola Cummings told the court that, when filling in a council tax and housing benefit application form, Mrs Taylor had failed to disclose that her son, Steven, was in full-time paid employment.

She was overpaid £1,809.11 in benefits between February, 2003 and November, 2004.

Mrs Taylor will have to repay the full amount of overpaid benefit and magistrates also ordered her to pay £150 towards costs.

Councillor John Campion, the council's cabinet member for finance and corporate affairs, said: "These two cases again highlight our determination to tackle benefit fraud.

"We are fully committed to rooting out fraudulent claims and prosecute offenders, ensuring that they do not profit from a crime which has an impact on society as a whole."

Wyre Forest District Council has a confidential benefit fraud hotline for reports of suspected false claims, on 01562 732658.