Sunderland magistrates heard that 55-year-old Thwaites had claimed nearly £5,000 in income support and housing and council tax benefit.

But at the time he was working as a builder's labourer on various sites and carrying out duties which included bending, lifting and using a cement mixer.

Thwaites, of Stranton Terrace, Roker, understood when filling out the benefit claims form that he should inform the department of any changes such as going back to work, the court heard.

In February of last year Thwaites was captured on camera lifting and moving materials on a building site, which led to his fraudulent claims being exposed.

He admitted all three offences of knowingly and without reasonable excuse, failing to inform the Department for Work and Pensions that he was working.

Arrested and interviewed, Thwaites was said to believe when he started working the benefits would just stop.

He claimed he was in that much in debt that he needed the money and has now tried to pay it back.

Over the six month period of which he claimed, between September 2006 and March 2007, Thwaites illegitimately acquired £4,776.66 by telling authorities he could not work as he needed a walking stick to aid him and that he needed help with personal care.

Thwaites, who has been claiming disability living allowance since 1993, told the bench: "I had a motor bike accident so at first I couldn't walk.

"I'm sorry I did it, I just needed the money."

He was given a year's community order and 42 hours unpaid work which he will carry out one day a weekend.