A pensioner has admitted falsely claiming nearly £17,000 after keeping a large injury pay-out secret.

Stephen Alesbrook, 67, received a £27,000 compensation payment in 2000 after an injury forced him out of work.

But he hid the cash from Blaby District Council and the Department for Work and Pensions.

For six years after becoming unemployed, he took more benefits than he was entitled to but was eventually found out.

Alesbrook, of Huncote Road, Stoney Stanton, pleaded guilty to two counts of benefit fraud at Leicester Magistrates Court on April 23.

He was given an 18-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £150 costs.

Alesbrook has repaid all the cash he falsely claimed.

Magistrates told Alesbrook they could have sent him to prison for six weeks for the offence.

But the sentence was lenient because of his co-operation with investigators, his bad health and his early guilty plea.

Alison Moran, performance and audit manager at the council, said: "Benefit fraud is plain and simple theft from the public purse and we will continue to work with our partners to prosecute these fraudsters who are costing hard working taxpayers millions of pounds each year."

She said that if suspect anyone of committing benefit fraud, call the benefit fraud hotline on 0116 272 7733.