A CWMBRAN man who falsely claimed more than £17,000 in benefits was given a 16 week suspended sentence yesterday.

Mark Woodland, 40, of Rhymney Court, Thornhill, Cwmbran, appeared before Newport Magistrates Court charged with two counts of dishonestly making false representations by failing to declare to the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) and Torfaen County Borough Council that his wife Aliema Woodland was living with him with a view to obtaining benefits.

Woodland wrongly claimed a total of £17,684, including £7,625 in housing benefit, £1,437 in council tax benefit and £8,622 in income support.

In a prosecution brought by Torfaen council, the court heard that Woodland’s fraudulent claims came to light when the council found a match between payroll records at Torfaen council, where Mrs Woodland works, and housing benefit records for Mr Woodland at the same address.

A council investigation found that despite marrying and living together since July 9 2004, Woodland had claimed for benefits from the DWP on or around May 6 2005 and did not declare that his wife was living with him.

He then made a second fraudulent claim on or around April 1 2008 from Torfaen County Borough Council, again failing to inform the authority that he was living with his wife.

He pleaded guilty to both charges at an earlier hearing on March 29.

In mitigation Ross Williams, defending, said the reason Woodland had put in a claim for income support in 2005 was because benefits his wife had been receiving were suddenly stopped, and the couple were trying to pay off debts.

Chairman of the bench David Rowlands sentenced Woodland to 16 weeks in prison suspended for 12 months, a 12-month supervision order, 240 hours of unpaid work in the community, and ordered him to pay £100 towards court costs.

Torfaen’s executive member for resources Councillor Marlene Thomas said: “We’re very pleased with today’s outcome. It sends out a strong message that benefit fraud will not be tolerated and that we will use all the powers at our disposal to tackle it vigorously.”

A spokesperson for Torfaen council said Woodland will have to repay the whole amount falsely claimed.

He will receive a deduction in housing benefit payments and will be sent a bill for council tax, while the DWP's debt managment centre will recover the income support paid.