A MAN made over £6,000 from a benefits scam he claimed he had read about on the internet.

Blackburn magistrates heard Elliot Greenwood-Cotton made three separate claims, each netting him over £1,500, and in each claiming he had three children and significant housing costs.

"He didn't have three children or those housing costs," said David Morgan, prosecuting.

Greenwood-Cotton, 24, of Sudell Road, Darwen, pleaded guilty to three charges of retaining a wrongful credit. He was made subject to a community order for 12 months with 80 hours unpaid work, fined £113 and ordered to pay £85 costs and £34 victim surcharge.

Mr Morgan said the first claim had been made in October 2018 and was followed by similar claims in June and July 2019.

"The information he provided about having three children and housing costs was totally untrue," said Mr Morgan.

"He said he had seen it online that this was a way to obtain benefits and he had taken a chance."

The defendant, who had no previous convictions, said he would like to apologise for his actions.