A BENEFIT fraudster has been hit with a bill of more than £100,000 after he was investigated by the council and a recovery agency.

Bexley Council obtained a confiscation order, compensation order and costs to the sum of £103,949 against Keith Savage, of Oakhouse Road, Bexleyheath.

The council, which worked in partnership with Assets Recovery Agency Financial Investigators, discovered Mr Savage's wife, Judith, had claimed housing benefit in her maiden name, Byrne, despite the fact her landlord was her husband.

Mrs Savage pleaded guilty at Bexley Magistrates' Court on October 28, 2004, to receiving £37,075 housing benefit and £3,783 council tax credits while her husband pleaded not guilty.

Mrs Savage received a community punishment order of 100 hours at Blackfriars Crown Court on December 16, 2004.

Mr Savage was subsequently found guilty of receving £30,949 housing benefit on July 20 last year, at the same court.

This was in relation to six offences of making false representations to Bexley Council by letter in which he claimed his wife was a tenant and not his spouse.

He was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment on each count, served concurrently.

Mr Savage was also served with a compensation order for £30,949 in favour of Bexley Council, with £10,000 prosecution costs also awarded to the council and a confiscation order of £63,000.

He was given 12 months to pay the orders with a default sentence of 18 months.