A FRAUDSTER, who dishonestly claimed more than £60,000 worth of benefits, has been given a suspended sentence.

Takato Funatsuki, 56, was handed a ten-month prison spell by a judge who suspended the sentence for 24 months at St Albans Crown Court on Friday, September 30.

Credit was given to his previous good character and early guilty plea, but the former Elstree resident was ordered to complete 250 hours of unpaid work and make a £2,000 contribution toward the prosecution costs.

Funatsuki was able to pay back in full the £62,359.02 he claimed over a six-year period to the council.

Councillor John Graham (Con/Aldenham East), portfolio holder for finance, said: “This man falsely claimed more than £62,000-worth of benefits he was not entitled to - a staggering amount and I believe that he would have carried on had he not been confronted with his crime.

“We have a number of routine checks in place to identify benefit fraudsters and we will take action against those who think they are above the law.”

Funatsuki, now of Milne Field, Hatch End, was prosecuted by Hertsmere Borough Council following an investigation by its anti-fraud unit.

He first made applications for housing and council tax benefit when living with his wife in Lodge Avenue, Elstree, in November 2004.

The 56-year-old notified the council of a change in his circumstances in 2005 when he began working for a family business, but continued to claim benefit due to apparent low wages.

Funatsuki and his wife moved to Linster Grove, Borehamwood, in August 2007.

However, it was not until February 2010 the council noticed something was wrong through a routine data check.

After a complex investigation, the council discovered Mr Funatsuki had a series of undeclared bank accounts.

During the six years he claimed benefits, around £750,000 was deposited into them.

The failure to declare the money resulted in an overpayment of £54,005.75 worth of housing benefit and £8,303.27 of council tax benefit.

Funatsuki was interviewed by council investigators in February. The council said he initially denied wrongfully claiming, but when presented with the evidence of a year-long investigation admitted he had made dishonest claims.

Following the interview he repaid the full amount before legal proceedings began.