Three people have admitted fraudulently claiming benefits totalling more than £10,000.

Gordon Anderson, 51, of Germander Way, Bicester, failed to tell Cherwell District Council that he had returned to work after a period of unemployment.

Banbury magistrates fined him £300, and ordered him to pay £250 court costs and a £15 victim surcharge.

He has already paid back the £2,983.52 he claimed.

Jeffrey James, 42, of Chamberlain Place, Kidlington, claimed £4,919.42 in housing and council tax benefit.

He had failed to declare student income to the council, and was found to have used a friend’s address in Southmoor, near Abingdon, for his student loan application.

James was fined £100, ordered to pay £70 court costs and a £15 victim surcharge. He must pay back the money he defrauded.

Victoria Lane, 30, of Winchelsea Close, Banbury, did not inform the council of pay increases during a two-year period and received £2,587.78 in housing and council tax benefits she was not entitled to.

She was fined £230, ordered to pay £250 court costs and a £15 victim surcharge. The court heard she was paying back the money.

Afterwards, Cherwell’s deputy leader George Reynolds said: “We are catching more and more benefit thieves thanks to our co-operation with other agencies.

“Anyone else out there who is making fraudulent claims should be getting very worried about when we will knock on their door.

“Their best bet is to come forward and admit what they’ve done.

“Things will go better for them in the long run.”

Anyone with information about someone cheating the benefit system can call the confidential fraud hotline on freephone 0800 716152.