A BENEFIT fraudster who claimed thousands of pounds in pension credits while his wife worked has been ordered to hand the cash back.

And Trevor Hermon has asked for time to find the money as two lump sums he has already handed over were used to settle an earlier overpayment.

The 67-year-old was spared jail at Swindon Crown Court in January last year after admitting two counts of failing to notify a change in circumstances.

Between May 2012 and June 2014 he was claiming Pension Credit on the basis he and wife Karen were out of work.

But in reality she had a job through an agency meaning her husband received thousands he was not entitled to.

And at the time of the offending Hermon, of Bramwell Close, Kingsdown, was convicted of similar offences committed between 2009 and 2011.

When he was put on a suspended sentence the judge then was told that he would be able to claim £24,000 when his pension matured.

Richard Williams, defending, said his client had handed over about £9,000 but that had been used to settle the earlier matters.

He said that he expected his client, who the court heard has assets worth £64,000, would need more time to pay the money.

Judge Robert Pawson found Hermon had benefitted from crime to the tune of £11,947.22p and gave him three months to pay it or serve a six month jail term.