A BENEFITS cheat who made £30,000 while illegally working at a caravan park near Bromyard has been jailed.

Martin Wood was sentenced to 15 months having claimed income support and incapacity benefit despite having a part-time job at the Saltmarshe Castle Caravan Park.

Worcester Crown Court heard that Wood began claiming benefit in 1998 having been diagnosed with a back complaint requiring regular spinal injections. But the 43-year-old, of Farriers Close, Droitwich, started working again to repay debts and began earning between £300 and £400 at the caravan park.

The father-of-five admitted three charges of making false claims for benefit and three of obtaining benefit by deception. He asked for a number similar offences to be considered.