A MAN who committed a £16,000 benefit fraud over three-and-a-half years while employed as a council youth worker has been spared jail.

Donald Smith carried on claiming income support despite finding work with Stockton Borough Council in 2003.

Smith, 59, who was also claiming towards his council tax, failed to tell the Department of Work and Pensions that he was in employment. He had previously submitted a legitimate claim saying he was unfit to work in 2000, although his circumstances later changed.

Euan Duff, prosecuting at Teesside Crown Court, said the £16,213 fraud committed by Smith lasted from April 2003 to December 2006, during which time he was employed by Stockton Council. Smith, of Dovedale Road, Norton, Stockton, was later arrested and told investigators that he was in debt. The court heard how his earnings as a youth worker varied from £21 a month to up to £1,700.

Jane Smith, mitigating, said Smith, who admitted two charges of making a false statement, was of previous good character and owned his own home. She said he voluntarily paid back the council tax element of his fraudulent claim and was willing to pay back the remainder of the money he stole at £100 a month.

A proceeds of crime hearing will take place later this year. Sentencing Smith, Judge Brian Forster said: “These are serious offences. The whole country is living through difficult times at the moment and money is short for every organisation.

“The country’s resources are depleted if people squander and obtain money they are not entitled to.”

The judge gave Smith credit for an early guilty plea and said as he was of previous good character he would not be jailed, but there still had to be an element of punishment.

He gave him a 12-month community order and said he would have to abide by a curfew for six weeks between 8.30pm and 6am during which time he would be electronically monitored.