Scrounger’s life abroad

A MAN who failed to tell authorities he had moved to the Philippines and continued to claim thousands in benefits must do 200 hours of unpaid community work in compensation, a court declared yesterday

Colin Bell (42) pleaded guilty at Oldham Magistrates’ Court on March 29 to four counts of failing to tell Oldham Council and the Department for Work and Pensions about his move.

Bell had claimed disability living allowance, incapacity, house and council tax benefits totalling £8,763 between May 2010-May 2011. The court heard he has alcohol and mental health problems.

Delivering sentence, Marilyn Buckley said: “The crimes you have committed are very serious. You have abused the benefits system. You should make some sort of repayment to the community of Oldham, who you have taken from.”

As well as the community service, Bell was sentenced to a 12-month community order and a 12-month supervision order.