A BENEFITS cheat who lavished cash on souping up his car was yesterday jailed for eight months.

Llewellyn Anthony Luce, 28, fraudulently claimed more than £12,000 from the Department of Work and Pensions and from Torfaen council while enjoying a luxury lifestyle.

Cardiff crown court heard he bought a Citroen Saxo worth £4,000 and converted it so it was worth £12,500.

Over two years it was estimated he spent more than £47,400. His legitimate income from benefits would have been just £9,000.

Luce, of Bythway Road, Trevethin, Pontypool, admitted three charges of obtaining benefits by deception and one of possessing cannabis with intent to supply.

The father-of-two was told by Judge Christopher Llewellyn-Jones QC: "You are in my judgment simply a fraudster taking advantage of a system designed to help people in need."

The judge said Luce brought honest claimants "into disrepute". Prosecutor Liz Pearson said Luce was running his own business buying and selling cars while making the claims.

He lived alone in a council house and started claiming in 1995 for anxiety and depression, but he later failed to inform the department of a change in his circumstances.

In March 2004 the modified Saxo was featured in motoring magazine Revs.

It had a private plate, L77 UCE, in-car entertainment system worth £2,000, television screens and a PlayStation and a stereo system. Its two-tone "flip paint" finish cost £2,000.

Police discovered Luce had set up a car valeting service in Pontypool but still claimed benefits.

In his flat police found cannabis, expensive electrical equipment, car parts, keys for six vehicles, a stereo system, many DVDs, an £850 television and £2,033 in cash.

His mobile phone bills were £300 a month and he paid £1,000 cash to cover his mother's rent arrears to prevent her being evicted. Luce claimed his spending was low, the TV came from his parents and that he was "given" things.

He believed he was allowed to work 16 hours a week. Hilary Roberts, defending, said the original claims were genuine, but there was "a creeping escalation of being involved in work".

Torfaen council's executive member for resources, Councillor Marlene Thomas, said: "The sentence he has received sends out a strong message to benefit cheats that they will be caught.

"People who falsely claim benefits are taking money away from those who really need them."