A jobless man has been given a conditional discharge for 12 months and ordered to pay costs of £150 after admitting two charges of benefit fraud.

Worcester magistrates heard that Keith Ambler, of Shakespeare Road, Dines Green, had failed to inform Worcester City Council that his wife Karen had found a job, resulting in an overpayment of £1265.49 housing benefit and £349.49 council tax.

Ambler failed to give proper notification of his change of circumstances and continued to claim Working Families Tax Credit between July and October last year, during which time he also made claims contrary to the Social Security Administration Act.

In mitigation, during Friday's case Ambler's solicitor Dawn Cooper said that her client - who had been on benefits for 10 years and was of previous good character - was "overwhelmed" by the situation in which he found himself.

Stress

She also said that at the time of the offences, he had been under a lot of stress - his mother was seriously ill and had subsequently died.

After the case, prosecutor Wendy Rushton said a council had a duty to protect the funds it administered.

"All claimants for housing benefit and council tax benefit are required to complete an application form declaring his and his partner's income including state benefits and outgoings such as rent," she said.

"The warnings on the form are quite clear - it is an offence to give false information and that doing so could lead to prosecution - and that is the action the city took in this case."

A confidential Benefits Fraud Hotline, which members of the public can use to report suspected fraud, has been set up on 01905 722212.