Benefit cheat had £90k in the bank

James Boyce, 60, of The Crescent, Tingley, was given a four month curfew order at a hearing at Leeds Magistrates Court, after pleading guilty to illegally claiming £17,500 in housing benefit and £5,000 in council tax benefit, between 2003 and 2011.

The curfew order will mean that Boyce is restricted to his home address between 7pm and 7am every day for four months.

Boyce pleaded guilty after admitting failing to declare that he received a large lump sum from a property sale, as well as money from a private pension.

Passing sentence, magistrates’ said Boyce had committed a serious offence, which could have resulted in a custodial sentence. But they acknowledged his early guilty plea, and noted he had already repaid all the money he had claimed, when passing sentence.

Steve Carey, chief revenues and benefits officer for Leeds City Council said after Tuesday’s hearing: “Claiming benefits that you are not entitled to is stealing, and is taking money away from people who really need it.”