A PENSIONER who fraudulently claimed almost £70,000 in benefits, despite owning at least four houses, has been jailed and ordered to pay back the money.

Richard Denby, of Moorlands, Benson, near Wallingford, was last month found guilty of five counts of making false statements with a view to obtaining benefits between March 2000 and March 2008.

Yesterday at Oxford Crown Court the 80-year-old was jailed for 40 weeks by Judge Zoe Smith, after refusing to provide any information about how many houses he still owns.

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Denby was prosecuted by Cherwell District Council, Cotswold District Council, Waveney District Council and the Department for Work and Pensions.

During his trial prosecutor Michael Vere-Hodge QC said the pensioner, who was living in Kirtlington near Kidlington when he was arrested, had been confirmed to own four houses in Yorkshire.

Sentencing him yesterday Judge Smith said that after his father died in 1956 Denby was left a quarter of his property portfolio, which amounted to 16 properties in Hull.

Jane Malcolm, defending, said her client still maintained his innocence but had not brought to court the documents needed to establish if he has any remaining assets.

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