Fraudster Peter Bakewell conned £60,000 in disability benefits while lugging around animal carcasses in his butcher's shop.

Bakewell told the benefits agency he needed constant care for his ailing back problem but was spotted lugging heavy carcasses and cutting huge slabs of meat at his shop in Castletown, Sunderland.

The 52-year-old was jailed today after Newcatsle Crown Court heard he even managed to dupe his GP.

Prosecutor Martin Towers said: "Mr Bakewell, as a result of applications for benefit originated in 1992, obtained benefits over a period of seven-and-a-half years to which he had no entitlement."

The court heard how Bakewell received £44,943.74 incapacity benefit between February 11 1992 and August 2 1999 and £17,048.70 disability living allowance between October 4 1995 and September 28 1999.

Mr Towers added: "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, depending on how much pain he was in. He also said that he could walk only 50 yards comfortably."

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

Bakewell admitted that although he did have back problems and a hereditary eye condition, he did not require the care he had stated.

His barrister, Jamie Adams, 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 he was receiving the benefit.

Bakewell, who has now retired and is claiming legitimate benefits, is now paying back the money at a rate of £20 per week.

Mr Adams said despite the fact that the money will never be full recouped, Bakewell will live the rest of his life on the breadline.

Bakewell, now of St John's Road, Pelsall, West Midlands, pleaded guilty to 10 charges of obtaining benefit by deception and asked for a further 373 offences to be taken into account.

Judge Denis Orde jailed him for six months. He said: "These offences were tantamount to theft of public money, the bill for which is picked up by the tax payer.

"This was not a one-off claim in a moment of temptation but deliberate deception. You milked the public purse week after week, month after month, year after year. You would have gone on but for the vigilance of investigators who observed your mobility.

"This money was for those genuinely unable to move about or care for themselves because of disability.

"It's small wonder the treasury are often unable to make ends meet when financing the welfare state when people like you are getting something for nothing.

"When you rob the system you rob many because you rob us all."

Updated: 17.01 Thursday, June 28