A MAN who embezzled more than £24,000 in disability benefits while living in Runcorn has shown enough remorse to escape a jail sentence.

Brian Duff, 51, pleaded guilty to four counts of Social Security fraud before appearing at Warrington Crown Court on Friday.

The court heard that despite the magnitude of crimes committed by Duff during a period of four years, it was his first offence - and he would run the risk of losing his respectable job if jailed.

The judge declared he would only have to serve 200 hours community work and pay £250 court costs due to the mitigating circumstances of his 'excellent' past record.

Duff's spiral of deceit began when he claimed he was too incapacitated to work, while still turning up for his job at British Aerospace in North Wales.

He made the series of false claims at Social Security in Kingsway, Widnes, and signed a declaration form that all the information was correct on a number of occasions at his local post office.

Though he had initially been out of work due to injury, he later accepted an offer of employment while receiving weekly benefits.

Duff was living in Runcorn at the time and now lives in North Wales.

Defence solicitor Alan Simms said his employment had been placed in jeopardy, and he had cancelled his last standing order in anticipation of receiving a custodial sentence.

Judge Elystan Morgan told Duff: 'Once you were embellished in that sort of criminality it is clear that you found it difficult to get out of.

'Nevertheless, you are able to take advantage of the excellent record you acquired up to four years ago.

'It is a very serious situation that you have found yourself in and it was a fraud that is closer to the figure of £26,000. That is a very serious offence in itself.

'I am mindful, however, that when you started committing that offence you were a person of good conduct. You are 51 and you would be lucky to get another job if given a custodial sentence. You have also shown obvious remorse.'