A FRAUDSTER admitted swindling nearly £30,000 of benefits.

Peter Way, 66, of Sherwood Close, Langdon Hills, has been handed a 12 month suspended sentence and six month curfew after pleading guilty to ten offences.

He falsely claimed £25,024 in housing benefit over a period of three years and ten months, and £3,454 in council tax benefit over a period of three years and four months.

During an appearance at Basildon Crown Court, Way admitted dishonestly making a false statement or representation to Basildon Council.

As well as being ordered to repay the full amount of illegally claimed benefits, he was also handed a 12 month prison sentence, suspended for a year.

He will on a curfew between 8pm and 7am over the next six months.

Rob Manser, billing and benefits manager at Basildon Council, said: "People who dishonestly abuse the benefits system in this way are sending a slap in the face to those honest residents who dutifully tell the truth when they make a benefit claim and regularly report any changes in their circumstances, to the council, knowing that it is going to result in a lower award of benefit.

"The pressures on public finances are intense and these sorts of losses have a very real impact on the lives of local people. At a time when tough choices have to be made about how to support local residents, this one case has resulted in the loss of thousands and thousands of pounds.

"Basildon Council's Investigation section is working tirelessly to gather the evidence to bring offenders before the courts. Unfortunately, this will not be the last case of its kind."