Prison sentence for benefit cheat

A benefit cheat from Cornwall has been jailed for 18 months.

Michael McQueen from Penwarne Farm, Mawnan Smith, swindled more than £51,000 from the Department of Work and Pensions(DWP), Truro Crown Court heard.

McQueen was receiving disability living allowance, incapacity benefit, income support, housing benefit and council tax relief while working full time.

The 44-year-old had pleaded guilty to six charges, including making a false statement, at an earlier hearing.

The court was told McQueen's deception was discovered when local authority records were checked following a claim for housing benefit.

A joint investigation by DWP, Carrick District Council and Sedgmoor District Council found McQueen had failed to declare he had been working full-time in six different jobs over a six-year period.