Man fraudulently claimed £23,000 in benefits

Nick Ashworth, of Park Road, Buxton, appeared before magistrates on July 9 where he pleaded guilty to two charges of failing to disclose capital which resulted in overpayments of £20,192.68 in housing benefit and £2,965.87 in council tax benefit between November 2008 and February 2013.

Ashworth, who was given credit for his guilty pleas and for having repaid all the overpaid money, was ordered to complete 100 hours of unpaid work over the next 12 months and pay costs of £250.

The prosecution was brought following an investigation by High Peak Borough Council’s benefits investigation team.

Councillor Tim Norton, executive member for corporate services, said: “Benefits are there for those people that are really in need and we will not tolerate abuses of this nature.”