Arwel Huw Jones, 28 years, pleaded guilty to making false claims for benefit from Gwynedd Council. For the last 5 years Mr Jones had claimed both Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit on the basis that he was a self employed grass cutter earning less than £80.00 a week. However enquiries by staff from Gwynedd Council revealed that on average Mr Jones had earned between £500.00 and £1,500.00 a week and had purchased land valued at £30,000.00. The overpaid Housing Benefit amounted to £11,655.51

In his defence, Mr Jones' solicitor stated that he had not been careful enough with receipts, however Mr Alwyn Jones, prosecuting on behalf of Gwynedd Council, highlighted the fact that there was a fundamental difference between the £10,000.00 declared by Mr Jones on his application form in 2004/2005 and the £82,612.00 that he actually received.

The case was adjourned for a report to be prepared by the Probation Service and the Magistrates stated that a custodial sentence could not be ruled out.