AN amateur boxer has dodged jail after he pleaded guilty to benefit fraud.

Brendan Halford, 36, of River Holme View, Brockholes, conned Kirklees Council out of almost £9,000 of housing benefit.

The former light middleweight fighter appeared at Bradford Crown Court on Monday charged with submitting false documents.

Halford told the council he was paying £460 per month rent and claimed £8, 978 of housing benefit from April, 2007, to January, 2009.

But following an investigation it emerged the property was actually owned by him and the landlord he had said was in charge was actually the company he worked for.

The court also heard that Halford, originally from Kent, had two previous convictions for fraud and deception involving skimming and cloning credit cards.

In July, 1997, he was handed 200 hours of community service at Canterbury Crown Court after he lied to get credit.

And in September, 2002, he was given a 42- month prison sentence after police found 600 cloned credit cards at his home.

Halford admitted he had led a dishonest life in his 20s but said he was a reformed character.

He said he was disappointed to find himself back in court six years after his release but had committed the crime to help support his 10-year-old daughter who he had recently been given custody of.

But on Monday, judge His Honour Jonathan Durham Hall QC said he was not convinced Halford had turned over a new leaf and locked him up overnight.

The judge said Halford’s legal team had failed to provide evidence the 36-year-old was running a legitimate business.

He said: “This is a case of a fraudster who yet again has submitted false documents and lied to the authorities.

“He is a deeply deceitful man and he’s done it again.”

But yesterday Mr Durham Hall gave the former boxer a reprieve after accounts from his company were produced.

The judge also heard that he had paid £1,178 of the stolen cash back and his new wife was expecting their first child in August.

He was sentenced to eight months in jail suspended for two years.

He must also complete 120 hours of unpaid work and is subject to a one-year-supervision order.

He was also made to pay £1,000 court costs.