Crawley benefit fraudster jailed for £65k con

A BENEFIT cheat who conned taxpayers out of more than £65,000 has been jailed for 12 months.

Mark Kirkham, of Lambeth Walk, Broadfield, admitted 15 counts of dishonestly making false statements and one of failing to declare a relevant change in circumstances.

A court heard how the 46-year-old was overpaid a total of £65,362.38 in housing benefit, council tax benefit and income support.

He continuously deceived by failing to declare that he got married in 1999 and that his wife worked full-time.

Kirkham cheated the false benefits between 1999 and 2007.

He was jailed for a year after a hearing at Brighton Crown Court, sitting as Lewes Crown Court, on January 26.

Sentencing, judge Janet Waddicor said: "This was not an easy case to investigate, but has been done so to a very high standard."

Speaking after the case, Councillor Jennifer Millar-Smith, the borough council's cabinet member for housing, said: "The council takes a very serious view of people who obtain benefit when they are not entitled to it.

"We are committed to detecting and prosecuting people who commit benefit fraud. Any claimant whose circumstances change should contact us immediately."

The council has a dedicated team of officers who investigate possible cases of residents fraudulently claiming benefits.

Since April 2007, the team has identified overpayments totalling £646,374.84.