Calls for councillor to resign after admitting benefit fraud

Ian Hollinshead, a member of Staffordshire County Council and Stafford Borough Council, fraudulently claimed housing and council tax benefits for nearly three years after failing to declare changes in his employment.

He was handed a court bill of more than £700 when he appeared at Stafford Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

The 55-year-old remains a councillor for Stafford North on the county council and Littleworth ward on the borough council but has been suspended by the Labour Party.

Both councils say they have no powers to dismiss him from his role but he has been urged to stand down by fellow councillors and residents.

Councillor John Francis, who is a member of Staffordshire County Councillor and councillor for Weeping Cross on the borough council, said: "He has said he was naive. He must have not realised what was going on, giving him the benefit of the doubt.

"As a councillor, if he has got any sense of morality, I think he should resign his position.

"It's gone on while he's been a borough councillor and a county councillor.

"It reflects badly on us as councillors."

Staffordshire County Council leader Philip Atkins said: "He's elected as a representative for Stafford North. He must answer to his electorate. It's a matter for him and his conscience.

"I can't do anything. I can't force him to resign. I think he should do the right thing."

Graham Cartwright, aged 69, who lives in Brookwillows, Wildwood, Stafford, said Councillor Hollinshead had been put in a position of trust and was surprised at what he had done.

He added: "He should be ousted from all councils and never allowed to stand for them again."

During Wednesday's court hearing, magistrates were told that his benefits claim had been made on the basis he worked for Tesco but he had failed to declare he had started working for the Grass Roots group on a zero-hour contract.

Mr Simon Belfield, prosecuting, said he was overpaid by £7,854.17 between April 2011 and March 2014, but has since repaid the amount in full.

He said he also failed to report a rise in his allowance on the borough council between 2011 and 2014 and he had not declared his allowances while serving on the county council.

The court heard he also failed to declare his self-employed earnings from the two businesses he ran from home.

Mr Belfield said his income, not including from self-employment, had been nearly £9,000 in 2011 but had risen to about £22,500 by 2014.

He admitted two counts of benefit fraud.

His solicitor Mr David Green said he had been naive and wanted to get back to serving the people of Stafford.

He was fined £405 and ordered to pay £300 costs and £20 victim surcharge.

Councillor Hollinshead, of Yarlet Croft, Stafford, became a borough councillor in 2011 and county councillor in 2013.