TWO Blaenavon men who claimed UK benefits while living in Spain were ordered to pay back thousands to the taxpayer.
Berwyn Jones, 51, and William Bunce, 55, both of Castle Street, appeared at Newport Crown Court yesterday after admitting benefits fraud at a hearing in May last year.
The court heard Bunce claimed £70,393.23 in benefits he was not entitled to while Jones claimed £103,63.21.
After looking at their available funds, Recorder Ian Murphy QC ordered both to pay back £41,407.63 within the next six months.
If they failed to do this they would be locked up, he said.
He told the court the amount available for payment was less than the total amount claimed, and came from the value of a shared property.
He made a confiscation order for the cash and said: “I'm obliged to pass a term of imprisonment default of payment. The defendants have a full six months to raise the money in question."
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