Kenneth Eastwood, 63 - described as 'utterly dishonest' by Teesside's top judge - was overpaid £25,486 in benefits over four years. The judge did not believe Eastwood's account that his wife saved up a suitcase of money without his knowledge.
A widower who claimed more than £25,000 in benefits after banking a suitcase of cash left by his late wife has avoided jail.
Kenneth Eastwood, 63 - described as 'utterly dishonest' by Teesside's top judge - was overpaid £25,486 in benefits over four years.
The judge did not believe Eastwood's account that his wife, who had suffered a large stroke, saved up a suitcase of money without his knowledge.
Eastwood fraudulently claimed £12,772 in jobseeker's allowance and £12,714 in housing benefit between September 2014 and September 2018.
Prosecutor Shaun Dryden told Teesside Crown Court yesterday: 'The total loss is just shy of £25,000.
'The defendant in fact had a large amount of savings which he didn't disclose.'
Eastwood claimed he only had £4,300 in savings, well below the £6,000 limit for money affecting benefits.
But Mr Dryden said: 'In fact he had £48,429 in four accounts.'
Eastwood said his wife died in April 2013 and six months later he discovered a suitcase full of cash which she had saved from her benefits.
He said he took the £36,000 to the bank and it was deposited, but he did not regard it as his money.
His banking history showed he had made transactions and transferred large amounts of money.
Mr Dryden said: 'After a fairly lengthy interview, the defendant conceded he had been acting dishonestly.
'He hadn't disclosed he had that cash to the benefits agency because he simply wanted to hold on to it.'
Eastwood, of Hebburn Road,
