BENEFITS FRAUDSTER FACES PRISON SENTENCE

A fraudster has admitted cheating the Benefits Agency of more than 9,000 of public money.

Nicholas Lewis of Eastbourne Road, Willingdon, admitted five charges of housing benefit fraud before Eastbourne Magistrates on Tuesday last week.

The 41-year-old bought the house he had previously been renting in December 1999, but between September 2000 and March 2001, continued to receive housing benefit to a total of 9369.65.

The district council s Fraud Investigation Unit caught up with Lewis after examining Land Registry documents which revealed that he was not only the property s tenant, but its owner as well.

To support his fraudulent benefit claims, Lewis forged two letters from his former landlord which he sent to the Benefits Agency.

Sentencing has been adjourned for reports, but a prison sentence has not been ruled out.