Benefits cheat Steven Nelson avoids jail term (From York Press)

Benefits cheat Steven Nelson avoids jail term

8:50am Friday 19th March 2010 in

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A MAN has narrowly avoided jail after pleading guilty to claiming more than £4,000 in benefits.

Steven Nelson, of Alma Terrace, in Selby, fraudulently claimed £4,175.69 in Jobseekers’ Allowance, housing benefit and council tax benefit from Selby District Council and the Department of Work and Pensions.

Nelson was interviewed under caution at Selby District Council offices, where his benefits were reviewed.

It was discovered he had been overpaid because Nelson had failed to declare that he was working. The 33-year-old will now have to pay the cash back.

On top of this, magistrates sentenced him to nine weeks in jail, but suspended the sentence for 12 months.

They also ordered Nelson to complete 200 hours of unpaid work in the community.