Black Lace singer Dene Betteridge has been jailed for six months following his fraudulent disability benefit claims while he entertained fans at one hundred gigs.

Fraud investigators found the Agadoo singer and Bradford City fundraiser had appeared at gigs across the UK, including Wolverhampton, York, Morcambe and Blackpool, while seeking almost £25,000 across three different types of benefit.

His wife, Karen Betteridge, escaped with just a community order to undertake 100 hours of unpaid work for her part in claiming money to be the singer's carer.

The singer said he could only watch TV because of health problems - despite performing "vigorous physical activity" on stage.

The 59-year-old, who last year recorded a version of You’ll Never Walk Alone to raise money for the Bradford Burns Unit, claimed he used sticks to get around because of his sciatica.

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Leeds Crown Court heard today how Mr Betteridge claimed £24,075 over a two year period between November 2012 and March 2014.

But, following his admissions to the authorities, Leeds City Council still employed him to take disabled children around the city by driving a van and he earned £10,000.

Mr Betteridge, who used to live in Tong, Bradford, was joined in the dock by his 54-year-old wife, who wrongly claimed £2,409.

Prosecutor Angus Macdonald told the court: "The defendant was the lead singer and front man of the pop or rock band Black Lace and the evidence says this role required vigorous physical activity.

"Despite that, the defendant over an 18 month and two years undertook fraudulent claims.

"He filled out forms claiming that he needed sticks to walk after suffering from pain and could not do anything except watch television - and he said that he needed a carer.

"On November 23, 2012 the defendant claimed disability allowance which was accepted.

"This is despite playing two gigs in-between that date - on November 20 and November 27."

Defending Betteridge, an ambassador for Royal Radio at Bradford Royal Infirmary, Peter Burn said: "Mr Betteridge has been naive and says his time in the band Black Lace is part of his charity work, but because of the media coverage of this case - he has stopped getting bookings for his band and has been suspended from his driving job pending the outcome of this case."

Speaking about Mr Betteridge's job driving for the council, Mr Burn said: "He has been driving a van for Leeds City Council to transport disabled children and earns around £10,000 for doing that."

A probation report stated that Mr Betteridge had health problems including asthma, mobility problems and sciatica.

Richard Holland, mitigating on behalf of Mrs Betteridge, a supermarket worker, said that the grandmother had already paid back a quantity of the cash.

Mr Holland said: "She knows what she has done and has been naive. However, noticing her wrong doing has already started paying back the money at £50-a-month and leaves a balance of £1,859."

Mr and Mrs Betteridge, who have eight children between them, jointly admitted benefit fraud at Leeds Magistrates' Court at an earlier hearing.

Betteridge claimed £11,579.66 in Disability Living Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance and £13,667 in Council Tax and Housing Benefit.

Mr Betteridge was accompanied into court by members of the family, including his son.

A Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) spokesman said: "Only a small minority of benefit claimants try to cheat the system, but cases like this show how we are rooting out fraudsters who are stealing money from taxpayers and diverting resources away from those who really need it."

Jailing Betteridge for six months, Judge Jacqueline Davies said: "Mr Betteridge you said you needed sticks to walk and a mobility scooter - and your pain was so bad that you said that all you could do was watch Television.

"Meanwhile you were playing gigs with the band Black Lace.

"To both your credits you did admit the charges at the magistrates' court and I will grant you pleaded guilty at the first opportunity.

"But this case was a series of offences over a significant period of time.

"That is why I must make the sentence an immediate prison sentence."

Addressing both defendants, Judge Davies added: "This country has come under pressure because of cuts to the benefit budget and the fraud came at a time when public finances were stretched."

Mr Betteridge, of at Shaw Close in Garforth, did not show any emotion as he followed the officer down into the cells - but said before the hearing that he would give a comment.

After the case, fraud team investigator Dan Womback said: "We detailed each of Dene's gig and went to these events.

"In total, we understand he had took part in 100 gigs in the period of time he was seeking benefits.

"Being someone who was out and about and was active at these gigs was quite easy to track down."

Asked where the gigs had been in the country, Mr Womback said: "The gigs were all across the country from the likes of Wolverhampton, Blackpool, Morcambe, and at York here in Yorkshire."

Team Leader at the department of Work and Pensions Adele Roles said: "I would say to people who are thinking about trying to illegally claim benefits - don't.

"Benefits fraud is only for short term gains - and you will get found out.

"Dene's notoriety is what led us to find him and we are happy with the result here today.

"The money he fraudulently gained could have gone to someone who really needed it."

Adding: "We take every fraud claim seriously and investigate it thoroughly."

Mrs Betteridge left court with a friend but would not give a comment about her husband's prison sentence and covered her face with a cloth.