TWO benefit cheats today made history when they appeared before York Magistrates on a £1,500 public money fraud.

Christopher Mark Alan Hardy, 23, and his wife, Carol, 30, were the first people to be prosecuted by the City of York Council for housing benefit fraud.

Immediately after their court appearance the council warned more will follow.

Up to now the council has had to call in police to get those who illegally claim benefit they are not entitled to before the courts.

Both Hardys pleaded guilty to benefit fraud and were fined £250 each, plus £90.27 court costs together.

Malcolm Gardener, of the council's benefit investigation team, said: "We are delighted to have secured this conviction.

"The City of York Council is wholeheartedly committed to ensuring that people who are entitled to benefits receive them, but we are equally determined to target and prosecute anyone who is claiming benefits to which they are not entitled.

"This is the first case the City of York Council has taken to court under new arrangements and we have another six in the pipeline. We are determined to drive down benefit fraud."

Stephen Chamberlain, prosecuting, said the couple lived together in Roche Avenue, Bell Farm, York, and Carol Hardy claimed housing benefit and associated benefits.

Christopher Hardy was fully aware of the circumstances of her claim and at times assisted in completing application forms.

But neither told the council that Carol Hardy had three jobs and over more than a year the couple received £1,551.14 they were not entitled to.

They have now agreed to repay all the money.

Neither Hardy had a solicitor.

Christopher Hardy said that at the time of the claims his wife was going through a divorce and was a hospital patient following a head injury, for which she needed counselling.

Each partner thought the other would tell the council about her work.

They did not deliberately set out to defraud the council, but they accepted they had no excuse.

Magistrates told them they were intelligent enough to understand what the applications forms said when it said the applicant should notify all changes of circumstance.

But because they had pleaded guilty and had agreed to repay all the money they would not be given community service which was the normal punishment.