THE successful prosecution of benefit cheat Alan Shipway sends a warning message to other fraudsters that there's no place to hide, says North Wiltshire District Council.

It says its benefit fraud team is hot on the heels of people who claim benefit payments when they are not entitled to them.

On Monday, 25-year-old Shipway, of Hardbrook Court, Chippenham, was given a six-month conditional discharge by magistrates in the town after he admitted fraudulently claiming more than £1,430 of housing benefit and more than £380 of council tax benefit.

He was charged under the Social Security Fraud Act 1992 because he failed to promptly notify the council of a change in circumstances, which he knew would affect his entitlement to housing and council tax benefit.

Shipway did not let the council know he had started work, and he failed to declare his wages and the fact he was receiving working families tax credit.

Investigations team leader Julie Higinbotham said: "North Wiltshire District Council's investigations team is committed to making sure that benefit payments go to those that genuinely need help with their housing costs. I would encourage anyone who may have information about those making fraudulent claims to call our hotline in the strictest of confidence."

The confidential hotline number is (01249) 706256.