A PENSIONER who illegally claimed £68,000 in benefits while his wife had hundreds of thousands in the bank has been spared jail.

Chung Fong, aged 74, of Eveswell Street, Newport, appeared at Newport Crown Court yesterday (mon) charged with two counts of dishonest representation for obtaining benefits.

He pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing.

The court heard that the Chinese national who has lived in the UK for more than 45 years can’t speak any English. Fong, claimed benefits amounting to £68,779 between 2004 and 2014.

The court heard that during this time his wife has more than £200,000 in assets.

Prosecutor Ruth Smith said he filled in forms for himself for pension credit and council tax benefit with declaring savings in building society and ISA savings accounts.

The total amounts obtained by Fong during this 10-year period included £64,451 in pension credit and £4,328 in council tax benefit.

Fong was arrested in 2014 and claimed in a police interview he did not know his wife's financial affairs.

He later admitted he was aware that his wife had money but did not know how much.

Gareth Williams, defending Fong, said the defendant had paid back the council tax benefit and was paying back the pension credit at a rate of £24 per fortnight.

Judge Daniel Williams sentenced Fong to 10 months imprisonment suspended for 18 months.

A Proceeds of Crime Act hearing will take place on July 27 to decide how much money will be confiscated from Fong to pay back the money he illegally claimed.