A benefit fraudster from Stoke-on-Trent has avoided prison after wrongly claiming more than £30,000 over five years.

Robert Olah continued to claim housing benefit between May 2016 and October 2021 but 'dishonestly' failed to tell Stoke-on-Trent City Council that he was in paid employment.

The 48-year-old, of Kimberley Street, Longton, also wrongly claimed Carers Allowance between September 2018 and November 2021. Over the five-year period Olah received £30,311 in benefits which he was not entitled to.

Olah has now been handed a suspended prison sentence after admitting two counts of dishonestly failing notify of a change of circumstances affecting entitlement to benefits. North Staffordshire Justice Centre heard that Olah had initially been entitled to claim both benefits, but carried on claiming them despite finding paid work.

The 48-year-old wrongly claimed £30,311 in housing benefits over five years (Wiki Commons).

Antony Schiller, mitigating, said that Olah was currently working on a cruise ship and was paying back the amount he owed at a rate of £160 a month. Mr Schiller said: "He is very embarrassed at what has happened, and hopefully that will be enough to keep him on the straight and narrow from now on.

"He is currently working on a cruise ship while his family are residing in the family home. They are a tight knit family who support each other.

"He is hugely relieved that he will now know the ultimate result of his case, so that can move forward with his life."

Olah was handed a 24-week sentence, suspended for six months. He was also told to pay a surcharge of £154 and prosecution costs of £85.

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