A 70-year-old benefit fraudster pleaded guilty to three offences and received a curfew order, where he will be monitored by an electronic tag.

Arvindkumar Patel, of Walton, had received £53,547 of overpaid benefits and £19,237 of overpaid housing benefit and council tax between June 2009 and December 2012.

Patel pleaded guilty at Guildford Crown Court on September 1 to three offences against the Department for Work and Pensions and Elmbridge Council.

He had provided false of misleading information, because he did not declare he had capital in excess of the maximum limit of £16,000. All over-payments must be repaid.

Patel received a sentence of 12 months' imprisonment, suspended for 12 months, and received a curfew order for four months between the hours of 6am and 6pm.

Councillor James Browne, cabinet member for housing, said: "I hope this cases serves as a further reminder of the repercussions for claimants of withholding information about their capital and earnings when claiming benefits.

"This type of dishonesty is a criminal offence with serious consequences. I would encourage members of the public to report suspected benefit fraud by contacting the council's confidential fraud hotline on 01372 474291."