A benefit cheat who pocketed £105,955 after claiming he could not work while continuing to run a building company has been jailed.

Michael Corrie, 50, of West Farm Close, Lower Ashtead, was sentenced to 13 months in prison at Guildford Crown Court on Monday, August 15, after the Department for Work and Pensions received a tip off from a neighbour.

Mr Corrie and his wife, Zoba, 33, who is expecting their fourth child, arrived at court yesterday in a wheelchair, neck brace and arm sling.

Mr Corrie stole over £100,000 from the public between 2005 and 2009, whilst carrying out physical work running a successful building company, AMDC Building Services, raking in a further £60,000.

The cheat even drove around in a van sign written with his company’s logo, and drove a second car, a Mercedes with a personalised number plate.

His wife was also found guilty of defrauding the public after opening a Halifax bank account in her name into which her husband’s undeclared building work profits were paid.

She was also found to be running an eBay business with an online account containing $6,400, about £3,200.

Mrs Corrie was given an eight month suspended sentence and ordered to wear an electric tag and obey a curfew between the hours of 8pm and 5am for the next two months.

Both defendants pleaded guilty to two charges of failing to notify a change of circumstances and two counts of dishonestly making false representation.

John Turnbull, finance director at Epsom and Ewell Council, said: “This is the culmination of a very large and complex investigation.

“We are delighted that the sentence reflects the severity of this case and the work that went into it.

“I hope this sends a message that fraud will not be tolerated and those that commit fraud will be brought to task no matter how long it takes”.

A confiscation hearing is due to take place which will look closely at the couple’s records to identify any assets which they could be forced to sell to repay the debt sooner.