A man committed benefit fraud because he didn’t want to dip into his savings of more than £100,000.
Stephen Crabtree, of Fairview Avenue in Batley, admitted dishonestly failing to disclose to the Department for Work and Pensions full details of his capital.
Prosecutor Andy Wills said that the 50-year-old’s application was fraudulent from the outset.
He told Kirklees magistrates: “He made an application to receive income- based Jobseeker’s Allowance and received this for 16 months.
“The application said that he was unemployed and had no capital or savings.”
The court heard that the department then became aware that Crabtree had savings of over £118,000.
Mr Wills added: “This was well over the limit of savings than can be held by any party when trying to make a claim for benefit.
“Had this been known by the department his application would have been refused.”
Crabtree, a window cleaner for 29 years before falling off his ladder and breaking his collarbone, said that his savings were meant for his retirement.
Mr Wills said: “He said he wanted the benefit to live with so that he didn’t have to dip into his savings.”
Crabtree was overpaid almost £5,000 which he said has now been repaid.
He said that friends had urged him to sign on and other people do what he did.
Magistrates sentenced him to a six-week curfew between 7pm and 7am.
Crabtree must also pay £85 costs and £60 victim surcharge.
