An Enderby resident has been sentenced to a two-year conditional discharge in the first case of benefit fraud under a new data-matching system at the council.

Anthony Fuller, 72, of Sloane Close, Enderby was the first person prosecuted by Blaby District Council following the introduction of data matching ‘Real Time Information’ (RTI) from HM Revenues & Customs against benefit data.

Following an ‘RTI’ data match it was found that since July 2008, Mr Fuller had been in receipt of an annuity that had not been declared to the council’s Benefits Section. As a result, benefits of £7,220 had been overpaid.

Mr Fuller pleaded guilty to three charges of dishonestly failing to declare the receipt of a private pension and was sentenced at Leicester Magistrates Court on Thursday 1 October 2015.

Mr Fuller was handed the two year conditional discharge, ordered to pay £200 costs and a £15 victim surcharge. As well as receiving a criminal record, the overpayment is being recovered by Blaby District Council.

Councillor Terry Richardson, Leader of Blaby District Council and Portfolio Holder for Finance and Efficiency, said:

“Hopefully this latest prosecution will send out a message to those who know their claims aren’t correct.

“This successful prosecution was achieved using the latest data matching techniques which will identify other fraudsters who may have also previously escaped detection.

“It is important these cheats are caught and prosecuted thus ensuring that public funds are safeguarded and only used for those in genuine need.”