AN Old Trafford man has been convicted of benefit fraud.


On December 6, Luke McDonald, 28, formerly of Ayres Road, was found guilty of dishonestly obtaining job seekers allowance, housing benefit and council tax benefit amounting to £3,120.35.


Mr McDonald had failed to inform the Department for Work and Pensions and Trafford Council that he had started working, having set up his own business – as a result, he was overpaid benefits between February 2012 and August 2012.


He was sentenced at Trafford Magistrates Court to a 12-month community order with the requirement of carrying out 60 hours of unpaid work.


In addition to this, the Department for Work and Pensions and Trafford Council will also be recovering the monies that he fraudulently claimed.


Trafford's director of finance Ian Duncan said: “This is another example of those seeking benefits not informing us of changes to their circumstances.


“Benefit fraud is a serious crime and we will come down heavily on those found to be claiming benefits that they are not entitled to.”