A FATHER who cheated the benefits system could see a ten-year financial farce come to the end in the new year.

Alan Lightfoot appeared at Teesside Crown Court yesterday but confusion surrounded why his hearing was listed as a confiscation order and why there were no barristers there to argue the case.

After more than an hour of telephone calls and queries, court officials established Mr Lightfoot's case had been transferred to the court by magistrates, who had received a letter from him asking for a compensation order to be quashed.

In 1993, Mr Lightfoot had been ordered to repay £4,818 housing benefit to Middlesbrough Council after he admitted obtaining the money by deception.

An initial demand of £32.85 a week was reduced to £1 a week because Mr Lightfoot was receiving £43 a week in social security benefits.

But the revised payment, introduced when Mr Lightfoot received incapacity benefits following heart surgery, meant it would take the 61-year-old more than 90 years to clear the debt.

Mr Lightfoot told the Recorder of Middlesbrough, Judge Peter Fox, QC, he had written to Teesside Magistrates' Court in the summer asking for the compensation order to be discharged.

Once the confusion had been cleared up, Judge Fox adjourned the case for three weeks so officials from the council could be asked their views on bringing it to an end.

"It is nothing to do with confiscation, it is compensation," said the judge. "Big difference.

"Middlesbrough Council need to be informed of your application and be given an opportunity to make any observations they wish.

"I am going to ensure that this application of yours is sent to the council for them to respond within three weeks and if they don't then I am going to discharge your order."

Mr Lightfoot, who lived in Thomas Street, Middlesbrough, at the time of the court case, left the court after telling Judge Fox: "Thank you for looking after me."

A spokesman for Middlesbrough Council said the case was now a matter for the Crown Prosecution Service.