A benefit cheat stole more than £42,000 by pretending he was living alone despite a friend moving into his home.
Aaron Presley, 44, falsely claimed multiple benefits based on the lie that he was the single occupier of a house in Bell Road, Wallasey.
Liverpool Crown Court heard how he was in fact sharing the property with his friend Mark Wood over a three-year period.
Frank Dillon, prosecuting, said Presley received housing benefit, council tax benefit and support, single person discount, employment support allowance and jobseeker’s allowance.
The defendant began making the claims legitimately in July 2010, when he stated on application forms that he was living on his own.
But on November 1, 2013, Presley told Wirral council his friend would now be living with him as a non-dependant.
Mr Dillon said the council informed him this would mean he was in receipt of overpayments.
However, in March 2014 the defendant told the local authority that his friend had not actually moved in.
Presley said he went to a council benefit office on November 4, 2013 to make this clear, but there was no record of this.
The defendant also suggested Mr Wood had since moved in Kent.
Investigations revealed his friend had used Presley’s address in credit applications and was liable for utility bills at the property.
Mr Woods’ employers confirmed that he told them he moved to the address in 2011.
Presley admitted four counts of fraud. He has no previous convictions.
Anthony O’Donohoe, defending, said his client, who suffers from mental health problems, did not commit fraud from the outset.
He said: “The defendant was living originally in Blackpool and he returned to the Wallasey area because of the ill health of his mother.
“He set up home alone but because of the difficulties he had, he was finding life hard to cope with.
The Queen Elizabeth II Law Courts, Liverpool Crown Court. File picture. Photo by Ian Cooper
“His good friend Mark Wood joined him and unfortunately this catalogue of events unfolded.
“When able to do so he has a good work record. He has been a carer for most of his adult life, but has been off work for a significant period of time.”
Judge Jonathan Foster, QC, said Presley stole money which belonged to the public.
He said: “People must realise that the consequences of taking what is other people’s money are serious.
“The claim was not initially false, but you did not take sufficient steps in my view, and you knew you did not, to rectify the position.”
Jailing Presley for three months, the judge added: “The message must go out that stealing from the public, which is what this is, will result in custody.”
Source: http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/