A BENEFIT claimant failed to notify the authorities when his partner started working longer hours.

Blackburn magistrates heard that over 20 months Michael Gill was overpaid by nearly £18,000.

Gill, 47, of Beaumaris Avenue, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to dishonestly failing to notify a change of circumstances.

He was sentenced to 20 weeks in prison suspended for 12 months and ordered to pay £115 victim surcharge and £85 costs.

Jack Troup, prosecuting, said Gill made a joint claim for employment support allowance with his partner in 2012. At the time she was working just seven hours a weeks and the claim was legitimate.

The claim was referred for a fraud inquiry in April 2019 and that revealed she had increased her weekly hours to 31 in April 2017.

The increased hours had not been included in the claim.

"The defendant was interviewed and admitted knowing she was working more hours which hadn't been declared," said Mr Troup.

"The overpayment was £17,988 but it is accepted the claim was not fraudulent from the outset."

Jonathan Taylor, defending, said the claim had initially been legitimate.

"There is no suggestion this was done to support a lavish lifestyle or anything like that," said Mr Taylor.

"He has six children and the cost of living is increasing."