Unpaid work for Kettering benefits cheat

A benefits cheat from Kettering must carry out unpaid work after admitting dishonesty.

Simon Singh, 34, will have to complete 80 hours of work without payment after he was sentenced to a community order at Northampton Magistrates' Court this week.

Between August last year and January this year Singh, of St John's Road, failed to tell the Department of Work and Pensions the full and accurate details of his income.

He knew doing so would affect his entitlement to both Personal Independence Payment and Employment Support Allowance.

Singh previously admitted two counts of dishonestly failing to promptly notify of a change in circumstances affecting his entitlement to benefits.

He later admitted a further charge of failing to surrender after he didn't turn up when he was due to be sentenced in July.

After he was arrested he appeared from custody and told magistrates he didn't turn up because he was "confused about what was going on".

As well as his community penalty Singh must pay court costs of £85 and a further charge of £85 to fund victim services.

He must complete his 80 hours of unpaid work within six months.

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