THREE benefit cheats, who between them fraudulently claimed more than £4,500, appeared in court.

Peter Binner, of Chestnut Grove in Kidderminster, pleaded guilty to failing to notify Housing and Council Tax benefits that he had started receiving Child Tax Credit.

Kidderminster magistrates court heard that Binner was overpaid £2,431.80 between May, 2003 and October, 2004. He was fined £150 and ordered to pay £100 costs.

Esther Hounsfield, of Linnet Rise in Kidderminster, also appeared before Kidderminster magistrates.

Prosecuting for Wyre Forest District Council, Nicola Cummings told the court that Hounsfield failed to notify the council that she had started work and was claiming benefits as though she was unemployed.

As a result, she was overpaid £1,665.09 between November, 2003 and July, 2004.

Magistrates fined Hounsfield, who pleaded guilty, £150 and ordered her to pay £150 in costs.

Samantha Chamberlain, of Avon Road, Kidderminster, was fined £120 and £80 costs for failing to notify the council that she had stopped receiving statutory sick pay and had returned to work.

Chamberlain pleaded guilty to the charge.

The court heard she had been overpaid £573.70 between January and August last year.