A BENEFIT fraudster conned thousands of pounds over five years to pay for his disabled daughter.

George Allen, 59, admitted falsely claiming £22,923 in benefits at Oxford Magistrates' Court.

Allen, who lives in a caravan but gave an address of South Avenue, Kidlington, was described as 'naive' in court after claiming he though he could earn £200 a week and still claim benefits.

But magistrates decided Allen intentionally chose to defraud Oxford City Council and the Department for Work and Pensions by making claims for 257 weeks before being spotted.

David Jugnarain, prosecuting, said Allen signed for income support declaration every two weeks despite working as a labourer and applied for housing benefit annually even though he lives in a caravan and is not on the council's housing list.

He said: "His claims were false from the outset. In interviews he said he thought he could earn about £200 a week without declaring it. Later on in interviews with the Department for Work and Pensions and the local authority he said he needed the money to send to his disabled daughter."

Allen pleaded guilty to two counts of failing to declare employment between 2001 and 2006.

Defending, Paul Bevan, admitted making bogus claims over a long period of time were an aggravating factor.

He added: "Mr Allen is extremely naive and a simple man. It would appear somebody told him fairly fantastically he could earn £200 a week wages and still claim benefit."

Allen was not using thousands of pounds of benefits to fund a lavish lifestyle because he lives in a caravan with no electricity or flush toilet and does not have a television, Mr Bevan added.

Instead the money was handed over to help his disabled daughter.

Sue Hastings, chairman of the magistrates, ordered the case to be sent to Oxford Crown Court because magistrates only had ability to impose a community sentence which they believed was too lenient.

Allen was given unconditional bail to appear at Oxford Crown Court for sentencing on December 3.