A CAR valeter dishonestly pocketed more than £30,000 in benefits in a fraud spanning almost five years, Bradford Crown Court heard today.

Ako Salih claimed the money while working self-employed for two periods, between July 2007 and May 2013.

Salih , 33, of Lumb Lane, Manningham, Bradford, came to the UK from Iraq in 2002 and was granted indefinite leave to stay.

He pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to eight offences of benefit fraud, totalling £30,874, prosecutor Emma Downing told the court.

She said the claims related to Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit, Job Seeker's Allowance and Employment Support Allowance.

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Miss Downing said that Salih worked for Secure Valeting Plc for two periods, totalling four years and ten months.

He was paid weekly with the money going straight into his Santander bank account.

Five of the offences were fraudulent from the outset, with Salih declaring four times to Bradford Council that he was not in work and had not completed any work.

Salih told investigators he was confused and could not distinguish between self-employed work and "proper work."

Miss Downing said there would be no confiscation hearing under the Proceeds of Crime Act in the case.

Salih was already paying back the money at the rate of £182.50 a fortnight from his benefits.

Salih's solicitor advocate, Ash Mahmood, said he was keen to do unpaid work for the community but he was unable to at the moment because he was not fit enough.

He came to court hobbling and leaning heavily on a wooden walking stick.

Mr Mahmood said Salih was awaiting surgery and his condition had recently deteriorated, even in the few weeks since his probation report was prepared.

Judge Colin Burn told Salih: "This was obviously dishonest and the people that suffer are the people who pay their taxes to provide a safety net for people who are unable to work or can't find work and need benefits."

The judge said Salih was guilty of "blatant dishonesty" but it was not in the public interest to send him immediately to prison.

He had already paid back about £3,000 and must try to accelerate the repayments.

Salih was sentenced to a total of 13 months imprisonment, suspended for two years.

He must obey an electronically monitored five month curfew order, between 9pm and 6am.

He must also work with the probation service on a low level activity requirement.