A BENEFIT cheat was told his behaviour was disgusting by the judge who lambasted him for "chucking away" public money.

Peter Saunders claimed £6,935.42 of incapacity benefit while he was working as a lorry driver for Eddie Stobart.

The 63-year-old from Norfolk Road, Kidsgrove, appeared at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court yesterday after pleading guilty last week to two counts of failing to notify the Department of Work and Pensions about his change of circumstances between February 2009 and April 2010.

He had been correctly claiming the money since 1994 because he was unable to work following a serious injury, but his health had improved enough to allow him to take some shifts as a driver, which he failed to declare.

Prosecuting David Iles said: "When he was interviewed he was shown details which the authorities had obtained from Eddie Stobart and he said he did not know anything about it and did not have a driving licence.

"He was also shown pay slips and the application form with his signature and he said the details were false."

The court heard Saunders asked for legal representation and then declined to be interview.

The case was suitable for the magistrates court, but Saunders opted for a crown court trial which was scheduled but he finally admitted his guilt last week.

Jason Holt, mitigating, said the 63-year-old's biggest punishment was appearing before the court for the first time.

He added: "He elected for trial to try to remove himself from the embarrassment this brings to him family.

"But the stark reality hit him last week and he entered his guilty plea.

"He is a proud man who up until now has lived with real moral values."

Saunders has no previous convictions and his health has since deteriorated again and he is due to have an operation.

The court heard he had racked up debts of £36,000 on credit cards and his family has been through difficult times in the last two years with the loss of two grandchildren.

Judge Paul Glenn said: "This man has chucked away even more public money by electing trial, he disgusts me."

Speaking directly to Saunders he added: "The public are sick and tired of benefit cheats and that's what you are.

"These sort of offences are easy to commit and difficult to detect.

"The victims are taxpayers, that public money could have been better spent rather than going subsidising you.

"In interview you lied and lied and you were stroppy, arrogant and obnoxious. And then you have the cheek to elect crown court trial, wasting more public money when you knew you were guilty.

"You have run up enormous debts and the reality is this money is unlikely to be repaid."

Saunders used a false address on the job application and his wages were paid into a different account than his benefits.

Judge Glenn sentenced him to a four week prision sentence, suspended for 12 months, with a condition of residence at his home in Kidsgrove.