A fraudster who claimed almost £3,000 in Jobseekers' allowance while working THREE jobs has been fined £140.

Samuel Ludlow, 22, admitted falsely making a statement to obtain Employment and Support Allowance from the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP).

Medway magistrates were told he claimed the benefit from July 2012 to May 2014 and in total, was paid £2,804.10.

Ludlow claimed the money when he was living in Temeraire Manor, Middle Street, Brompton, but had since moved the Basingstoke area as he had fallen out with his mother.

Magistrates were told that during the period he claimed, Ludlow had three different jobs - one working for Ford, another working for True Telecom Ltd, and a third working for Imperial Car Supermarket where he is still employed today.

Representing himself, Ludlow, who has a personality disorder, said he did not realise he had to tell the DWP he was working as he thought filling out his P45 and having a P60 form would automatically update their systems.

He added: “I was mentally unfit (when I started claiming) and got on my feet again. I genuinely thought it was automatic. I’m happy to repay the money.”

Magistrates fined him £140 and ordered him to pay £85 in court costs.

Lawrence McVeigh, chairman of the bench, said: “Having a personality disorder is not much of an excuse really. You quite deliberately claimed this money.

“It is inexcusable. It's theft effectively as it's public money.”

Magistrates were also told the DWP would contact Ludlow to arrange a repayment plan to claw back the money.