A West Watford man has been ordered to repay more than £13,000 after being convicted of benefit fraud.

Lee O’Leary, of Willow Lane, admitted he continued to claim housing and Council Tax benefit from June 2009 until September last year, despite being employed.

A fraud referral was made by Watford Borough Council’s Revenues and Benefits department when it was noticed that O’Leary had stopped claiming Job Seekers Allowance in July 2009.

When O’Leary was interviewed under caution in November last year he admitted that he had been working for a number of employers.

The council’s Revenues and Benefits department calculated that O’Leary was overpaid £13,635 in benefits.

O’Leary pleaded guilty when he appeared before Watford Magistrates’ Court on December 20.

He was sentenced to complete100 hours unpaid work and a 12-month supervision order with probation. He was also told to pay £250 in prosecution costs.