Man with inheritance claimed benefits

Trevor Darcy, 49, of Shepherd Road, St Annes, pleaded guilty to three offences of failing to notify a change in circumstances.

He was sentenced to a six weeks tagged curfew from 8pm to 8am and ordered to pay £85 costs with £60 victims’ surcharge by Blackpool magistrates.

Sharon Child, prosecuting, said Darcy had received £30,000 from his mother’s estate, but failed to tell the authorities about it.

As a result, over 23 weeks from 2011, Darcy illegally claimed £6,203 in income support, housing and council tax benefits.

David Charnley, defending, said his client was a recovering alcoholic who at the time had a gambling addiction from which he owed £11,000.

He had now paid back all the cash.

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