A 73-YEAR-OLD Gwent benefits cheat who falsely claimed thousands of pounds avoided jail yesterday.

Ronald Brindley, of Ebbw Vale, previously pleaded guilty to making around 15,000 worth of false benefit claims between July 1998 and March 2003, while he was living in a rented property in Watchet, Somerset.

An investigation by West Somerset district council found the pensioner was not entitled to any housing or council tax benefits at all because he had substantial cash assets which he failed to declare.

Taunton crown court heard yesterday he had "substantial capital reserves", with cash reserves of up to 92,000 during the period investigated against a benefits claim limit of 16,000.

He also had interests in four properties and went on a 4,000 luxury cruise with his ex-wife in 2002.

Judge Stephen O'Malley sentenced him to one year in prison, suspended for two years.

He was ordered to pay 1,500 to the council in costs, having already repaid the 15,000 falsely claimed.

The judge said: "These state benefits are provided to support people who need the money. You did not need the money. You are not entitled to it and you lied about your financial circumstances to obtain it."

Patrick Mason, prosecuting, said Brindley married and cared for Anna Reinders, who was 23 years his senior and suffered from Alzheimer's disease, in 1998, and the court heard how her London property was sold for 145,000.

An application for housing association accommodation was successful, and the first benefits claim was made two months later.

In it, Brindley claimed he had 1,600 in capital as opposed to 18,000 later traced to his bank account at the time.

Mr Mason said the five further counts referred to annual claim renewals in which Brindley continued to considerably under-estimate his capital, which must be below 16,000 to qualify for benefits.

The total amounts claimed between 1998 and 2003 were said to be 13,775 in housing benefit and 1,672 in council tax benefit.

The fraud came to light when Brindley's son, who was renting one of his father's properties, applied for housing benefit.