A DUDLEY grandfather who fiddled nearly £27,000 in benefits has been slammed by a judge for being idle.

Judge John Wait told Frederick Price it was clear he had “lived a life of comparative idleness for a quarter of a century".

He went on at Wolverhampton Crown Court, “You will have gathered I have little sympathy for you.”

The judge said he accepted Price, aged 59, was now a man with poor health but 25 years ago he had “made the decision to do nothing".

He went on, “You are a dishonest man and you richly deserve to go to prison.

"But to detain you would impose further costs on the taxpayer you are intent on living on.”

Cathlyn Orchard, prosecuting, said Price had claimed benefits and failed to declare to the authorities his wife had received a “substantial” inheritance of £98,000.

She told the court his benefits claims had not been dishonest from the outset, while maintaining relatives had benefitted from much of the inherited money.

Price, of Meadow Road, was given a nine month jail term, suspended for two years, and was additionally banned from driving for 12 months after he admitted three charges of benefit fraud.

The judge told him he must obey a six month curfew order between the hours of 7pm and 6am and pay £500 costs.

Paul Hiatt, defending, said Price who has five children and nine grandchildren was now taking steps to repay the money he obtained illegally back to the authorities.