Owen Ian Pritchard, who is registered blind, from Coed y Parc, Bethesda had pleaded not guilty to two charges of dishonestly obtaining Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit from Gwynedd Council between August 2004 and March 2007.

Mr Alwyn Jones, prosecuting on behalf of the Council, had told the Court that Mr Pritchard had dishonestly completed an application form for Housing Benefit by omitting to declare that his wife was working full time. 

Mr Pritchard offered no explanation as to why he had omitted to include his wife’s earnings on his application forms for Housing Benefit.

The magistrates found Mr Pritchard guilty on both charges. They agreed with the Council that Mr Pritchard had acted dishonestly in order to obtain benefit by failing to declare that his wife was working and dishonestly failing to notify the Council of a change in circumstance.

They pointed out that Mr Pritchard had admitted during his interview with the Council officers that it was his responsibility to inform the Council of all changes in circumstances.

Mr Pritchard, who has previous convictions for benefit fraud, will be sentenced on 24 October 2008 at Llangefni Magistrates Court. The total lost public funds was £10,660 which will have to be repaid by Mr Pritchard.