A BENEFIT cheat who claimed nearly £2,000 despite being employed was ordered to carry out unpaid work in the community. Stanley Ancaster was working as a driver for employment agency Manpower but failed to declare his £15,000 salary. The 51-year-old, of

A BENEFIT cheat who claimed nearly £2,000 despite being employed was ordered to carry out unpaid work in the community. Stanley Ancaster was working as a driver for employment agency Manpower but failed to declare his £15,000 salary.The 51-year-old, of Jubilee Road, Weston, had denied the offences and even complained to local MPs that he was not being treated fairly, Bristol Crown Court was told.But a jury convicted him of one charge of failing to notify his change of circumstances and five charges of making false representations to obtain housing benefit.He was ordered to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work in the community and pay £500 prosecution costs when he appeared in the dock on Monday.Alan Fuller, prosecuting, said the defendant had claimed a total of £1,849 in housing benefit in three years.Sentencing Ancaster, Recorder Mr Charles Hyde told him the evidence against him had been "overwhelming" during his trial.He said: "The offences were particularly mean. The sums involved were small but you offended over a considerable number of months."You were making representations to others, including local MPs, that you were being unfairly treated."It's people like you who benefit from this sort of deception that causes others who are entitled to benefit to miss out."I take into account your remorse. You are keen to repay society in some way for the offences you have committed." The defendant will now have to repay the £1,849.