WOMEN moving in with their man usually end up with him claiming to be constantly out of pocket.

But in Harold Thorley's case he ended up almost £12,000 richer after failing to declare that Barbara Fielding had moved in.

The 63-year-old was prosecuted by Halton Council for completing two benefit forms - one in June 2003, the other in September 2005 - without disclosing her presence.

As a result of these false statements, Thorley, of Sextant Close, Murdishaw, was overpaid housing benefit and council tax benefit totalling £11,935.57 between August 2002 and March 2006.

Runcorn Magistrates Court heard Thorley had lived with Ms Fielding since May 1993 but had only become partners in August 2002.

Thorley's solicitor told the bench his client had pleaded guilty at an early stage, was a first offender and had already started paying back the overpayment.

Magistrates accepted the offence was an act of omission rather than dishonesty and gave Thorley a two-year conditional discharge and ordered him to pay £100 costs.