FRAUDSTER Peter Bakewell conned his way to £60,000 in disability benefits while moving animal carcasses in his butcher's shop.

Bakewell told the benefits agency he needed constant care for a back problem, but was spotted carrying carcasses and cutting meat at his shop in Castletown, Sunderland.

The 52-year-old was jailed for six months yesterday at Newcastle Crown Court.

Prosecutor Martin Towers said Bakewell obtained benefits for seven-and-a-half years to which he had no entitlement.

The court heard how Bakewell received £44,943.74 incapacity benefit between February, 1992 and August, 1999, and £17,048.70 disability living allowance between October, 1995 and September, 1999.

Mr Towers said: "He submitted that he needed help seven days a week with matters such as getting out of bed, washing, bathing, getting dressed, using the toilet, changing sheets, getting into the right position for sleeping and taking his medication."

But the court heard how investigators spotted him working in 1999 and brought him in for questioning.

Jamie Adams, mitigating, told the court: "He is very ashamed and humiliated, and ashamed because of the humiliation he has caused his family."

Mr Adams also said that Bakewell had not claimed a wage from the business at the same time as he was receiving the benefit.

The barrister said that despite the fact the money would never be fully recouped, Bakewell would live the rest of his life on the breadline.

Bakewell, now of St John's Road, Pelsall, West Midlands, pleaded guilty to ten charges of obtaining benefit by deception, and asked for a further 373 offences to be taken into account.