A BENEFITS cheat from Rowley Regis fiddled £30,000 in welfare payments while pocketing £90,000 from selling cars and dogs, a court heard.

Judge Peter Barrie jailed Craig Richards for six months telling him he was guilty of a “sustained and substantial” fraud on the public purse.

The father-of-two claimed after his arrest he considered his buying and selling of cars and dogs as a hobby and as such there was no need to declare the income on the benefits claim form.

Laura Hobson, prosecuting, told Wolverhampton Crown Court, that Richards, of Harrold Road, was paid income support on the basis the only money he was receiving was a carers allowance for looking after his mother who had medical problems.

The benefit claim forms asked if he had any other money coming into the household but it was not declared.

“Had it been known he would not have been entitled to carers allowance or income support,” said Miss Hobson.

The court was told Richards was also in breach of a suspended prison sentence for perverting the course of justice.

Samantha Powis, defending, said he had been facing a number of difficulties in his life at the time, but accept he should have a more thought to the £90,000 earned from his “hobby”.