A BENEFITS cheat told a court he was full of regret after he failed to tell the Department of Work of Pensions about a change of circumstances.

Magistrates in Barrow heard Christopher Marchant was receiving the personal independence payment due to his immobility but did not tell the DWP when he took on a 'physically strenuous' job with a supermarket.

South Cumbria Magistrates' Court heard Marchant received more than £7,700 in benefits between September 2020 and January 2023 after he 'dishonestly' failed to notify the department his 'capabilities had improved'.

Marchant, of Kendal's Rydal Road, originally claimed for PIP after saying he had throat cancer, high blood pressure and could barely walk without pain or getting too tired.

But later, the court heard, the DWP obtained evidence that he was no longer as incapacitated and was working as a customer assistant and a relief home delivery driver for Morrisons.

Prosecutor Lee Dacre said the supermarket chain confirmed the role was physically strenuous.

Marchant, who represented himself in court, told magistrates he should have raised the change of circumstances sooner.

Explaining why he took on the job, he said: "I had to do something, it was doing my head in."

He said he was still in pain but taking painkillers allowed him to be more active.

"I have done wrong," he added.

"It's easy to say after the fact but I really regret it.

"I apologise for not speaking up sooner.  I really do regret it."

Magistrates sentenced Marchant to a curfew, keeping him at home between 2pm and 2am for the next eight weeks.