A Narberth man has been fined in court after admitting benefit fraud.
Thirty-nine-year-old Nicholas James Beere, of St James Street, appeared at Haverfordwest Magistrates Court on Tuesday, after being charged with failing to notify Pembrokeshire County Council of a change of circumstances that would affect his entitlement to housing benefit.
Prosecutor Vaughan Pritchard-Jones told the court that between December 9, 2013 and July 19, 2015, Mr. Beere received an overpayment of £4,399.53.
“He said when interviewed as part of the investigation that he was on a flexible work contract and wasn’t getting regular work, but wasn’t sure how to notify the local authority of the changes.
“Mr. Beere had been working intermittently because of a back injury, and working with Interlink Express as a delivery driver.
“His girlfriend who he lived with also had casual work, and he should have declared this,” added Mr. Pritchard-Jones.
Defence solicitor David Williams told the court that this pending prosecution had been hanging over the head of his client since late 2015.
“It has caused him a very large amount of stress. He made an overclaim, but did not do so dishonestly.
“It was based on a misunderstanding and also a change to his personal circumstances, which made it impossible to inform the department of his partner’s fluctuating income,” he explained.
The court heard how Mr. Beere suffered a catastrophic spinal injury in 2013 when he was working as a landscape gardener.
“After an operation he was unable to manoeuvre the stairs at his home, so had to live with his parents at their bungalow for a time, and became unaware of the precise income that his partner was earning at the time as they were not living together,” continued Mr. Williams.
“He has already made most of the repayments by borrowing from family and friends. Mr. Beere is deeply distressed and ashamed to be in this position,” he added.
Magistrates fined the defendant £200 and ordered him to pay prosecution costs of £85 and a £30 victim surcharge.