Bedsit lodger Ian Robertson cheated Southend Council out of more than £13,000, a court heard.

He was claiming housing benefit through an application form which asked if he was staying with relatives.

Robertson, 50, ticked a box to answer "no" when he was actually living in a house owned by his elderly mother and stepfather.

Prosecutor Nadeel Ahmed told Basildon Crown Court: "On reviews of the application he was saying he was not related to the landlord.

"But he was related and he was claiming £55 a week for a number of years by living at the house in Wimborne Road, Southend."

Mr Ahmed said Robertson even claimed housing benefit for the bedsit while he spent time in prison over an unrelated matter.

When questioned by police, Robertson said he had handed over the benefit money to his stepfather and not kept it for himself.

He was told by Judge Philip Clegg that had he been paying the housing benefit to any other landlord, it would have been perfectly legal.

Since he left prison Robertson had worked tirelessly in the community and made great progress in his behaviour.

The judge said for this reason he would pass an exceptional sentence. He imposed a nine-month prison term, suspended for two years.

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