A benefits cheat from Walsall who pocketed more than £25,000 and used it to pay debts and support a drug habit has avoided an immediate jail sentence.

Glenn Smith falsely claimed income support over more than five years after failing to tell authorities he was working. It was heard how the 41-year-old spent £50-a-day on heroin.

But he avoided a jail term and was handed a five month prison sentence, suspended for a year, when he appeared at Walsall Magistrates Court yesterday.

Mr Nayan Patel, prosecuting on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions, told the court that Smith had made a legitimate claim for income support in March 1992 but later failed to declare a change in circumstances.

He became a temporary worker for recruitment agency Brook Street Ltd for a year from May 2004, the court heard.

And he started his current job in production manufacturing at Paddock Fabrications Ltd in January 2006 – but he was again falsely claiming income support.

Smith, of Dartmouth Avenue, Leamore, fraudulently claimed a total of £25,993.84 and admitted two charges of failing to declare a change in his circumstances.

The fraud came to light after data was cross-checked on computer systems and showed that Smith had been paying National Insurance contributions. Mr Patel said: “He made a full and frank admission to officers. He said he had been living a double life for some time and was relieved it was over.”

Mr John Walker, mitigating, said Smith’s heroin habit had lasted 20 years: “He was that involved in heroin some years ago that he was classified as being unable to work.” Mr Walker added that he now had a permanent job.

The court heard Smith, who will be supervised in the community for a year, had started making repayments of £150 per month.