A benefit cheat claimed more than £40,000 when he had tens of thousands of pounds in the bank, a court heard.

Michael Glover told the Department for Work and Pensions he only had just over £2,000 in his account.

But he had 13 accounts and at one point a total balance of almost £250,000, Maidstone Crown Court was told.

The 65-year-old pensioner, of Lower Boxley Road, Maidstone, walked free after a judge took into consideration his poor health and that he had repaid the amount falsely claimed.

Prosecutor Mary Jacobson said Glover started claiming income support in May 2005 on the grounds he was unable to work because of ill-health and that he had no other income or savings.

But it was discovered he had £249,000. “He had a lot of capital,” said Miss Jacobson. “At no time did he declare any of the money, which was all in bonds. ”

During interviews he said he had not disclosed the other accounts because they were his mother’s and he held them on her behalf because she had an “unscrupulous” partner.

When his mother died in January last year he was the sole heir.

He had denied fraud and dishonestly failing to notify a change of circumstances, but admitted the offences on the first day of his trial.

Glover was given a two-year sentence suspended for 12 months and ordered to pay £1,000 costs.

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