A FATHER-of-two who dishonestly claimed more than £17,000 in benefits was trying to pay off debts to loan sharks and drug dealers.

Thomas Bailey, 46, pleaded guilty to receiving thousands of pounds in housing benefit and employment support allowance, despite working to jobs between 2013 and 2016.

The now unemployed man, of Poplar Lea, in Brandon, County Durham, admitted he continued to take payments from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) after getting a job at Nissan.

It was during his employment that Bailey began using £500 worth of cocaine a week to “help him get through his shifts”, Newton Aycliffe Magistrates Court heard.

Speaking in court last week, a probation officer said: “He tells me he’s unable to state why he did not report his change in circumstances and he was in a lot of debt to loan sharks and drug dealers – his life was out of control.

“There are repayment plans already in place with the DWP and he’s been told that he’ll be paying this back until 2035.

“He’s been told he needs to find £1,000 to keep his home from repossession.

“He says he still owes £500 to loan sharks and owes around £2,000 on credit cards and is in receipt of debt letters from the banks.”

Bailey pleaded guilty to two counts of dishonestly claiming benefits totalling £17,021.85 and was sentenced to 24 weeks in prison, suspended for a year.