A pensioner has been spared jail for a £60,000 benefits fiddle after repaying all the cash from his £200,000 savings.
Michael Thompson claimed means tested benefits which he was not entitled to by lying about a windfall he and his wife received from her late father's will.
His behaviour was branded as disgraceful by a Judge at Exeter Crown Court but his sentence was suspended because he had repaid the entire amount to the Department of Work and Pensions.
Thompson, aged 67, of Oaklea, Honiton, admitted three counts of fraud and was jailed for six months, suspended for two years by Judge Francis Gilbert, QC.
He told him:"You defrauded the public purse, and that means all of us, over seven years and just under £60,000. That is a lot of money and it is disgraceful behaviour. I will suspend the sentence as you have repaid the money you defrauded."
Mr James Taghdissian, prosecuting, said Thompson started claiming pension credit and council tax benefit in 2006 when he declared he had assets of less than £16,000.
An investigation showed he had £200,000 from the sale of his wife's parents' house and the total overpayment was £58,991.63, all of which has been repaid.
Miss Emily Cook, defending, said Thompson should be given credit for his guilty plea and repaying the money.
She told an earlier hearing her client has been confused by the benefits system.
She said:"He accepts he receives some benefit he was not entitled to but says that does not mean he acted dishonestly."
