A BENEFITS cheat who conned taxpayers out of thousands of pounds walked away from court with a £200 fine.

Retired construction manager Andrew Clarke, of Spinnaker Close, Clacton, hid more than £40,000 in savings from the Department of Work and Pensions to qualify for pension credits.

He admitted making a false statement when asked for his financial details in March 2010, and again the following month, although he received no separate penalties for those offences when he appeared at Colchester Magistrates’ Court.

He was fined £200 after failing to tell the authorities for more than a year about his improved private pension between 2012 and 2013.

When interviewed, he admitted hiding the savings so he could get a new car and furnish his house.

Clarke’s lies netted him more than £6,600 over 39 weeks, although he did repay the money after he was caught.

Colette Harper, prosecuting, said: “He claimed he had £834.59 savings and declared £132.12 and £355.49 in his bank accounts. At the time he had £42,000-plus in savings.

“When interviewed he said he would need money to furnish his home and for a new car.

“The money was obtained fraudulently. It was a fraud from the start.”

Mr O’Toole, mitigating, for the 65-year-old father-of-four, said Clarke was “apologetic”.

Magistrates took into account his previous good character and guilty plea before fining him £200, with £100 costs and a £20 victim surcharge – which he paid off on his debit card.