A BLACKBURN man has appeared in court for claiming benefits while in employment.

Trevor Bamber, 34, of Yates Fold, was given a conditional discharge for six months by Blackburn magistrates after pleading guilty to making false representations to obtaining housing and council tax benefit. Jemma Jones, prosecuting, said Bamber had claimed £2,119 in benefits to which he was not entitled because his partner was working.

She said an agreement had been reached for the repayment of the overpayment.

Stephen Parker, defending, said Bamber had made a joint claim for him and his former partner who had subsequently found employment.

He had suggested on several occasions that they should "come clean".

"He now accepts that he should have made that declaration on his own," said Mr Parker.

The court heard that Bamber's partner had continued to claim benefit and had eventually been jailed at Preston Crown Court for offences involving £26,000.