A 62-YEAR-OLD Skipton man who falsely claimed almost £10,000 in benefits has been ordered to carry out 60 hours unpaid work by magistrates.

David Guy, of Moorview Road, "buried his head in the sand" while claiming housing, council tax and job seekers allowance and working part time as a delivery driver, Skipton magistrates were told on Friday.

He admitted two counts of dishonestly filling out documents, and two of failing to inform Craven District Council of a change in his circumstances.

From February, 2012, he received overpayments in housing benefit, council tax benefit and job seekers allowance totalling £9,783, the court was told.

He had so far repaid £243 and was repaying on a weekly basis.

The court heard that Guy, a married man with no previous convictions had been a mechanic all his working life and had turned to delivery driving on a zero hours contract after a hip operation.

He had not used the money to fund a lavish lifestyle, but to pay everyday expenses and to support his family, the court was told.

Mitigating, John Mewies said Guy was a man who struggled with complicated forms and who had believed he could work up to 16 hours a week while still claiming benefits.

He added Guy's wife was suffering from cancer and currently undergoing radiotherapy treatment.

Guy was handed a 12-month community order with 60 hours unpaid work and ordered to pay prosecution costs of £350 and surcharge of £60.