A partially disabled divorced father-of-two who falsely claimed almost £32,000 in a four-year benefit fraud has been jailed for nine months.

Alexander Jeffrey (53) failed to tell the Department of Work and Pensions that he was working for longer than he was permitted to when he claimed the money between April 2001 and July last year.

Jeffrey, of Sunbeam, Lakeside, Tamworth, Staffordshire, pleaded guilty to one charge of failing to notify a change of circumstances while claiming incapacity benefit.

Tom Challinor, prosecuting at Stafford Crown Court, said Jeffrey had legitimately claimed benefit since 1994 following surgery ten years earlier which left him with back trouble.

"He worked 20 hours a week instead of 16 and at no time did he tell the DWP of his change of circumstances.

"He was interviewed by the department and it became apparent that he had worked in excess of 16 hours a week for the majority of the four years he had been employed."

Frederick Powell, defending, said: "He accepts what he did. He has led a frugal lifestyle. "