A 51-year-old benefit cheat who was overpaid £26,000 has been ordered to pay a £16,660 confiscation order.

Before Ipswich Crown Court was Dale Sunderland, 51, of Speedwell Road, Ipswich, who pleaded guilty last year to two offences of making a false statement to obtain benefit dating back to 2012.

The total overpayment over 197 weeks was £26,275.

He was sentenced to a six month supervision order in July last year.

Today (Friday) Sunderland returned to court for a hearing under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

Stephen Mather, prosecuting, said Sunderland’s criminal benefit from his offending was £25,505 and the available amount was £16,600.

Judge David Goodin ordered Sunderland to pay a £16,600 confiscation order of which £14,725 will be paid as compensation to Ipswich Borough Council.

At Sunderland’s sentencing hearing the court heard that he had claimed he had around £10,000 in bank accounts and premium bonds when his total capital was £34,592.