A SCHEMING former town hall worker fiddled benefit claims even though he had £750,000 in the bank.

Benefit staff became suspicious of Christopher Barcroft when they discovered he was pocketing large sums of interest from undeclared accounts, and now he's been jailed.

Barcroft, 44, swindled £32,518 in housing and council tax benefit over 10 years.

He submitted a renewal form each year, detailing his place of work, income and the fact that he had only one current account containing `a few hundred pounds'.

The former lesiure manager for Tameside council was jailed for three months at Manchester Crown Court.

His assets will be subject to a confiscation hearing early next year, following a High Court application by the council.

Deputy council leader Joe Kitchen said: "I sincerely hope this prison sentence acts as a suitable deterrent to anyone else who's thinking of abusing the benefits system in this way."

Barcroft, of Huddersfield Road, Stalybridge, pleaded guilty to one count of theft, two of deception and 10 of making false representations.

A further 28 similar offences were taken into consideration.

Barcroft worked for Remploy in Wythenshawe from 2000 until earlier this year.

The company is government owned and provides employment for disabled people.

When interviewed, Barcroft said he did not declare his bank accounts because he was concerned there would be a security risk.

A female relative of Barcroft said: "Chris wishes this matter to be kept private.

"But he has consistently provided his National Insurance number, so any relevant details about his assets could have been identified while making any assessment regarding his applications. These were never questioned.

"Perhaps had this question been raised, this matter could have been concluded much sooner.

"When passing sentence, the judge commented about his references of good character."