A FAMILY man who went back to work after retiring because he was bored was given a given a conditional discharge after claiming more than £4,000 in housing benefits which he was not entitled to, a court heard.

Douglas Jones, 69, of Monnow Crescent, pleaded guilty to dishonestly failing to notify a change of circumstances affecting his entitlement to social security benefit/advantage/payment.

Hereford Magistrates Court heard that between July 29, 2013 and December 15, 2014 Jones failed to promptly notify Herefordshire Council about a change of circumstances which would affect his entitlement to housing benefit.

He was no longer receiving pension credit due to an increase in his state pension, having started working again for a coach firm.

Adrian Jones, prosecuting, told Hereford Magistrates Court the total housing benefit claimed by Jones in that period – to which he was not entitled – was £4,803.95. An arrangement was already in place for that to be repaid.

Mr Jones said the benefit was received on the basis Jones was a single retired gentleman. Letters sent to him previously by Herefordshire Council reminded him he must report any changes straight away.

However, Jones said he did not realise he had to notify the council about the change to his employment.

When family members told him he needed to declare it, he went to the council to volunteer the information.

Defending, Emma Prosser said Jones had lived alone for 20 years and was a father of nine children who were all adults now with their own children and grandchildren.

"He is a family man who is embarrassed to be here today," she said.

"He does not accept he is dishonest and when we discussed his right to enter a not guilty plea he said he just wanted it over as quickly as possible.

"He has worked all his life driving lorries and coaches from a very young age until he retired at 65 and had not claimed from the state, raising his family and supporting them.

"When he retired at 65 he was naturally entitled to pension credit.

But unfortunately he was used to being a working man and went back to work.

"He did not think to notify Herefordshire Council of the fact he had gone back to work and says it simply did not cross his mind."

He accepted he should have read the paperwork, she said, but had made an 'honest mistake'.

"It was his intention to give up work again quite soon but says he will keep working until the money has been repaid," she said.

"It was his decision to go back to employment not to make lots of money and to defraud the system but because he was bored and work was what he knew."

Magistrates sentenced Jones to a conditional discharge for 12 months and ordered him to pay costs of £135 and a victim surcharge of £15.