A FORMER police officer accused of fiddling benefits has been found guilty of nine of the 12 charges he faced.

Vaughan Dodds, of Gardners Place, Langley Moor, Durham, could now face a prison sentence for his dishonesty.

Dodds, 45, will learn his fate next month when he returns to Teesside Crown Court after background reports have been prepared by the Probation Service.

The father-of-two was accused of illegally claiming £55,000 in Income Support, Council Tax relief and Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for himself and his wife between 2005 and 2009.

He was cleared on Wednesday of two charges relating to Council Tax claims and one of DLA after the jury deliberated for more than three hours.

He had been accused of failing to declare an inheritance of £180,000 while claiming state hand-outs.

Dodds said it had been his father's wish that the money should be used to privately educate his grandchildren, and he never considered that it was the couple's.

The prosecution also claimed he lied about or exaggerated the severity of disabilities and illnesses suffered by himself and wife Mandy.

On forms, he said his wife was hyper-sensitive to the slightest noise, and he was sometimes unable to leave home because of his ME.

The jury heard that the couple went on a motorcycling course, had gym membership and enjoyed a number of family foreign holidays.

They spent almost £35,000 at beauty salons, and more than £25,000 at hotels and restaurants, said prosecutor Graham O'Sullivan.

Dodds said on the benefits claims forms that could walk no more than ten metres without being worn out or needing help.

He said "on a good day", he had no energy, became easily agitated, forgot where he was going and could not stand bright lights.

On his wife Mandy's form, he said her condition meant she could not bear the sound of loo roll being torn off or her own voice.

The covert video showed Mrs Dodds blow drying hair at a beauty salon, and her husband dropping off their children for school.

Dodds - former firearms officer who guarded Tony Blair's home in County Durham when he was Prime Minister - denied 12 charges of making dishonest representations to obtain benefit.