Hove pensioner admits benefit fraud

A pensioner who continued to claim housing and council tax benefits despite having savings and investments of more than £60,000, has been given a three month community service order.

Lloyd Worrell, 78, of Brunswick Place, Hove, pleaded guilty to two charges of benefit fraud when he appeared at Brighton Magistrates Court on November 5.

In addition to the community service order, Worrell was give a three month curfew between 7pm and 7am and ordered to pay £1,930 court costs. He has already started to repay the overpaid benefits.

Len Batten, prosecuting on behalf of Brighton & Hove City Council, told the court that Worrell had been claiming housing and council tax benefit for his flat in Brunswick Place since at least 1999.

However, an investigation revealed that he had failed to declare a bank account showing more than £13,000 and other investments totalling over £49,000.

As a result, Worrell had fraudulently claimed more than £24,000 housing benefit and £400 council tax benefit.

Mr Worrell told the council he no longer had the money after he was scammed by his fiancée who had stolen around £62,000 from him.