A Marazion husband and wife have admitted housing benefit, council tax benefit and income support fraud totalling £22,188.04.

Alan Cogan (47) and Janet Cogan (50) formerly of Wolcocke Close, Marazion both pleaded guilty at Truro Magistrates Court on Friday, July 12.

Mr Cogan pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud under the fraud Act 2006 of failing to disclose to Cornwall Council that they owned a property in Spain.

Mrs Cogan also pleaded guilty to two counts of Fraud under the Fraud Act 2006 of failing to disclose that they owned a property in Spain, one charge being in respect of Cornwall Council and the other in respect of the Department for Work and Pensions.

After hearing the facts of the case, magistrates sentenced both Mr and Mrs Cogan each to a two year conditional discharge.

Mr and Mrs Cogan were also both ordered to pay £250 each towards the investigation and legal costs.

The overpaid benefits are being recovered from Mr and Mrs Cogan by both Cornwall Council and the Department for Work and Pensions separately from this Court action.

Cornwall Council operates a ‘zero tolerance’ confidential fraud hotline on freephone 0800 7316125.