A MAN has admitted benefit fraud after claiming more than £17,000 he was not entitled to.

Matthew Bearman, 37, of Wilberforce Way, Gravesend, pleaded guilty to five counts of benefit fraud against Gravesham Borough Council and the Department for Work and Pensions after failing to tell them he had up to £22,000 in savings.

On Tuesday Maidstone Crown Court heard that Bearman obtained a total of £11,600 in housing and council tax benefit and £5,700 in job seekers allowance.

He had paid the council back some of the money and had an agreement to clear the balance owed to the Department for Work and Pensions.

Cabinet Member for Revenues and Benefits Adrian Warburton said: “People who commit benefit fraud are stealing from the tax payers.

“Benefit fraud is not a game, it is a serious crime and people who defraud the system will be caught.”

The case has been adjourned to Monday, April 6 for sentence.