A WOOLSTON man has been fined after he fraudulently claimed more than £4,000 in council tax support.

Phillip Duffy has been ordered to pay back a total of £4,403.11 he conned Warrington Borough Council out of.

The 47-year-old failed to notify the council of a change in his wife’s income, which he knew would affect the council tax support he received.

Duffy stated that his household income had remained the same in order to receive a financial awards intended to help residents to pay their council tax.

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In all, he fraudulently claimed £2,699.44 in council tax support and £1,703.67 in discretionary awards from the council between April 2013 and July 2017.

On Wednesday, February 13, Duffy admitted four counts of fraud at Warrington Magistrates Court and was ordered to pay back these monies to the council.

He was also fined £584, told to pay £450 in court costs and handed a victim surcharge of £58.

Warrington Borough Council leader Cllr Russ Bowden said: “We work hard to ensure that people who legitimately need help paying their council tax get the support they need.

“Having people abuse the system is grossly unfair on those who need a helping hand to pay their tax.

“Council tax is an essential part of how we continue to operate our most important, most highly-valued services and we rely on this income each year.

“I hope this sets the example that those who abuse the system will be held to account.

“Ultimately, the money we raise from council tax each year is for the benefit of the people of Warrington and the services we operate.”