A scaffolder who claimed tens of thousands of pounds in disability benefits while working off-shore is behind bars today.
Keith Brown fleeced the taxpayer out of more than £46,000 in benefits over a five-and-a-half-year period, Teesside Crown Court heard.
The 56-year-old falsely claimed five types of state handouts to which he wasn't entitled - a total of £46,022 in benefits between 2007 and 2013.
"He claimed these benefits for so long, some of them have changed their names," said prosecutor Ian Bradshaw today.
Brown started claiming benefits legitimately in 2003 when he had a brain tumour removed.
He did not tell the authorities when his health improved and he took up to three jobs off-shore.
Judge Peter Armstrong told Brown: "The offences for which I have to sentence you are persistent, lengthy offences of benefit fraud.
"The time came when your health improved so considerably that you were able to obtain employment.
"Not just any employment, but off-shore for a number of contracts as a scaffolder.
"You continued to claim various benefits.
"These offences were thoroughly dishonest. You knew you should have told the benefits agency what you'd done.
"This was fraud carried out over a significant period by multiple transactions."
Brown claimed £28,009 in disability living allowance, £9,198 in employment support allowance, £6,897 in housing benefit and council tax benefit and £1,917 in incapacity benefit.
When confronted, he made limited admissions and claimed he had one job rather than three.
Brown, of Salisbury Street, Thornaby, admitted four counts of failing to notify the Department for Work and Pensions and Middlesbrough Council of changes in his circumstances to obtain benefits.
He had 30 previous offences, mostly old crimes of dishonesty and a burglary of a hotel in 2012.
Peter Wishlade, defending, said Brown worked for a total of two years so the loss to the public purse was less than suggested.
Brown denied telling a probation officer "I could pay it off tomorrow if I wanted" and he had one bank account with no investments or savings, said Mr Wishlade.
Brown was repaying £100 per month, deducted from the benefits he still legitimately received.
He took five medications including one to prevent epileptic fits, one for depression and another for a back condition, his hands shook and he had memory difficulties.
Brown was to undergo surgery to repair a degeneration of his spine. This would make him fit for work and he had a job offer.
Mr Wishlade said Brown was remorseful, accepted his wrongdoing, did not enjoy the court case and had learned "an extremely salutary lesson".
He suggested a suspended sentence allowing Brown to return to fitness, get back to work and quicker repay his debt to the state.
The judge jailed Brown for six months, telling him: "This was not a fraudulent claim from the outset.
"It became fraudulent when you obtained work and you failed to tell the relevant authorities of that.
"You continued to claim over a lengthy period, ending up with a substantial amount.
"I'm afraid I cannot see that there is any exceptional reason to suspend the sentence. You've had suspended sentences in the past and you've gone on to offend.
"This is purely a sentence designed to punish for you and as a deterrent for others.
"I'm afraid that's the least sentence I can pass for such a substantial fraud."
