AN aircraft enthusiast who paid thousands of pounds to be one of the last passengers on the Concorde was a benefit fraudster.

Magistrates were told that unemployed Malcolm Bingley had used some of his inheritance cash to pay for a holiday to New York on the supersonic's jet's final flight for paying passengers.

At one stage the 60-year-old had up to £75,000 in the bank but he had failed to inform the Department for Work and Pensions.

Paul Heron, prosecuting, said two of the ten charges of benefit fraud Bingley faced were for failing to promptly notify the authorities that he had savings over £8,000.

For a period of two years, he then went on to make false declarations that his circumstances had not changed.

Bingley was caught out when an Inland Revenue computer picked out the anomaly and officials used their powers to obtain his financial details from Barclays Bank.

Fraud investigator Neil Snaith said in October 2002 Bingley had opened an account with about £50,000 inherited from his aunt. Had also inherited a sum following his mother's death. Bingley said he had spent £1,683 on a holiday and £8,560 for the flight.

After a lengthy interview with investigators Bingley remarked: "You haven't asked me why the holiday cost so much.

"It was because I went by Concorde and Concorde was expensive. It was the last flight.

"I can bring a picture in and a certificate with my name on if you want."

Bingley, who denied ten charges, told the court staff at a JobCentre had assured him he could still sign on if he inherited money.

He said: "I'm not a common criminal. I have never been in trouble with police in any shape or form." But magistrates found he had acted dishonestly.

Willie Johnstone, mitigating, said Bingley had lost three close relatives in a short period _his mother, wife and aunt_ and was perhaps in a "terrible state" at the time.

Magistrates fined Bingley £500 and ordered him to pay £300 costs and £5,465 compensation.

Bingley of Dinsdale Street, Sunderland, said after the hearing: "I had this arrangement with my mother before she died to do something worthwhile with the money.