A man who failed to tell the benefit authorities the mother of his child was living with him, clocked up over £37,000 in fraudulent claims.

Wayne Curry, 34, claimed income support, housing and council tax benefit over four years.

He appeared at Canterbury Crown Court to be sentenced for two offences of failing to notify change of circumstances by omitting to tell the DWP and Thanet Council that his girlfriend was living with him at Nursery Close, Ramsgate.

The court heard Curry made the claims on the basis he was a single parent with one child.

Curry, of Broad Street, Ramsgate was sentenced to 12 months, suspended for two years with 100 hours unpaid work and a six months curfew between 9pm and 6am. He must also pay £5,000 compensation.

Catherine Sparks, for Curry, said it had been a turbulant relationship, there were times when they were apart and he was suffering from depression and had no network of support from family or friends.

His early claims were legitimate and when his former partner helped with child care, things between them improved and she moved in and he accepts he should have declared it.

Curry was now working, which had improved his financial situation, and no longer on benefit.

Miss Sparks asked the court to consider a suspended sentence with unpaid work.

Sentencing Curry, Mr Recorder David Tomlinson accepted there was no evidence of a lavish lifestyle or professional fraud, but warned Curry such offences usually resulted in an immediate prison sentence.