Council catches 65 benefit cheats

More than 60 benefit cheats in County Durham have been brought to justice and faced fines, cautions and prosecutions.

Wear Valley District Council has caught 65 fraudsters since it launched a crackdown last April.

In a recent case an offender was ordered to repay about £700 and court costs of £275.

Gary Ridley, director for resource management, said the council was determined to punish those committing benefit fraud.

He added: "We are very pro-active as a council in ensuring benefit fraud is not tolerated.

"Even when customers refuse to co-operate with our investigation officers, if the weight of the evidence is sufficient we will ensure that those committing fraud receive the appropriate punishment."