A MAN who ran a business while claiming £19,000 in benefits was jailed for a year yesterday.

George Sowerby, 33, received the benefits between 1997 and 2000 while running Elite Services, providing door staff four Yates's Wine Lodges in the region.

Robert Gray, for the Department of Social Security, said Sowerby received income support and a carer's allowance after claiming he was unemployed and was looking after his disabled mother.

Sowerby, of Coniscliffe Road, Darlington, admitted five charges of obtaining benefits while working and asked for other claims to be taken into account

Richard Scott, for Sowerby, said his client had repaid £6,000 and was paying the rest of the money back at £160 a month.

He said there were now 48 people employed by Sowerby's firm, which would disintegrate if he was sent to prison