A CHORLEY man continued claiming employment support allowance despite earning £20,000 a year.

Blackburn magistrates heard Thomas Scott claimed he didn’t notice the £120 a week extra income that was being paid into his bank.

Scott, of New Mill Street, Eccleston, Chorley, pleaded guilty to dishonestly failing to notify a change of circumstances.

He was made subject to a community order for 12 months, ordered to do 200 hours unpaid work and pay £85 costs and £85 victim surcharge.

Tracy Yates, prosecuting, said the claim wasn’t fraudulent from the outset but was for two years.

In June 2016 Scott phoned the Department of Work and Pensions and told them he had started a new job and ended his claim because he had started work. He made another call during which he admitted he had been working for two years and earning £20,000.

Damian Pickup, defending, said his client had a strong work ethic, starting when he was 14 years old and had a paper round.

He said his client went through a bad time when his parents separated, his maternal grandparents separated and his paternal grandfather died.

“He had a rough time and was bottling it all up,” said Mr Pickup.

“His mother marched him down to the doctor when he was clearly having mental health issues and he ended up in receipt of benefits. For six months he sat at home but as soon as he felt well enough he went back to work.”

Mr Pickup said there was an element of his client blocking out what had happened but all that was now behind him.

“He has a good job, has bought a house with his fiance and is moving on with his life,” said Mr Pickup.