A Harrogate man has been fined for defrauding the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) out of around £15,000.

Myles Gotting, 39, admitted to fraudulently claiming benefits over an almost four-year period during a hearing at Harrogate Magistrates Court on March 12.

He appeared at the same court last Friday (May 8) for sentence.

At the first hearing, prosecutor Alison Whiteley told the court Gotting claimed Universal Credit on the basis he was living at a rented property and had little-to-no savings.

However, the defendant failed to disclose to the DWP that he and his partner had bought a property on October 17, 2022, which he moved into, and had £25,000 in savings.

Ms Whiteley told the March hearing when Gotting put in a claim for Universal Credit in 2023, he said he had “no savings and was living in a rented house”.

The offence took place between August 23, 2020, and March 23, 2024, but Ms Whiteley said his receiving universal credit "was not fraudulent from the outset".

It’s believed Gotting, of Butterbur Way, falsely received £15,145 in benefits.

The defendant has a lengthy record but had not been before the courts since 2010.

Defence

At the first hearing, defence solicitor Sean Wilson said Gotting is re-paying the money through a debt management plan and is self-employed.

He told the magistrates Gotting had admitted the offence at the first opportunity.

The defendant has suffered two heart attacks in, Mr Wilson said, adding Gotting is due to have a heart by-pass this year.

According to court records, Gotting was ordered to pay a total of £1,835 to the court. This comprises a £1,250 fine, a £500 surcharge and £85 in prosecution costs.

His guilty plea was taken into account at sentencing.