Benefits fraudster who claimed £54,000 despite having £112,000 in the bank is SPARED prison

Benefit cheat Brian Carter from Basildon, Essex, who claimed while he had more than £112,000 in his bank account

A benefit fraudster has been spared jail despite claiming more than £50,000 in false benefits when he had £112,000 in the bank.
Brian Carter admitted conning more than £54,000 in false benefits over a six-year period despite his healthy bank account which he had failed to disclose to Basildon Council.
But the 58-year-old, from Vange, Essex, avoided a prison sentence and was handed just 200 hours unpaid work.
The sentence has been slammed by councillors who say they are sick of benefit fraudsters dodging jail despite years of false claims.
Phil Turner, deputy leader at Basildon Council, said: 'You have to question these liberal-minded magistrates who clearly felt it was in this man's best interest not to lock him up, but what sort of deterrent is that for others fraudulently claiming benefit?
'I don't have £112,000 in my bank, and your average hard-working, law-abiding citizen would be praising God for having that amount of money in the bank.
'His sentence is just a slap on the wrist. Magistrates need to get a backbone.'
He continued: 'There has got to be a change in legislation where the punishment fits the crime. If you walked into a bank and pilfered that amount, you would get banged up and so should this guy.
'This is unforgiveable.'

Carter conned £18,184.99 in housing benefit, £5,808.27 in council tax benefit and £30,315.05 in income support despite having £112,606.12 undeclared in his bank account.
He pleaded guilty to three counts of failing to notify a change of circumstances when he appeared in the dock at Southend Magistrates' Court last month.

On Monday he appeared at the same court for sentencing and was ordered to complete 200 hours unpaid work and pay back the fraudulently claimed benefits as well as £3,328 legal costs.
Carter could have faced up to nine months in jail for his fraudulent actions if he was dealt with in crown court and each charge ran after the other.

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