Taxi driver failed to declare his workA TAXI driver who failed to declare he was working was involved in a £17,000 benefit fraud, a court heard.
Mark Green, aged 51, made a false claim which allowed his wife to get income support, Plymouth Crown Court was told.
Benefits of £17,607 were wrongly paid for more than four years.
Green, of New Park, Horrabridge, admitted fraud by false representation by failing to declare he was working on May 17, 2007.
Cassie Rawlings, for the Crown Prosecution Service, said that officials for the Department for Work and Pensions visited the couple at the home they then shared on that date.
She added they were carrying out a review of his wife Sarah's income support claim.
Miss Rawlings said he was present when the form was filled in saying he was not working.
She added investigators were told four years later that he was working as a taxi driver.
Sally Daulton, for Green, said his wife had benefited from the money.
She said they were now separated and he had responsibility for looking after their son.
Recorder Henry Martineau said he had to impose a custodial sentence because of the time the fraud continued.
He gave him a 20-week prison sentence, suspended for two years.
He must do 200 hours unpaid work and pay £240 towards prosecution costs.
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