A Huntingdon man has been sentenced to eight months imprisonment after admitting fraudulently claiming more than £30,000 in benefits.

Appearing at Peterborough Crown Court on April 8, Amin Mutyaba, 66, of Buttsgrove Way, pleaded guilty to five charges of benefit fraud, dating from between August 2011 and December 2014.

Mutyaba had claimed benefit at his shared-ownership property, stating he was a single person. However, information provided to Huntingdonshire District Council suggested that Mutyaba was subletting part of the property, and an investigation was launched.

The probe revealed that 50 different people were linked to the address between 2008 and 2014, and that Mutyaba had been sub-letting rooms at his address and had failed to declare the rental income he had received to the council and the Department of Work and Pensions.

Mutyaba had also claimed a single person discount for his Council Tax for the entire period in question. Mutyaba, who was overpaid benefit totalling £31,620.28, was sentenced to eight months custody and will need to pay back the full amount of overpaid benefit.

John Taylor, head of customer services at the district council, said: “I am pleased this case has been successfully concluded. The hard work of the council’s fraud team has paid off and the judgement shows how seriously fraud is taken, not only by the council but the courts as well.

“We continue to protect the public purse and are always grateful to the public for supplying us with information and I’d encourage others to come forward if they have similar concerns, all allegations received will be looked at.”