A "forgetful" man who applied for benefits despite having thousands in savings was snared by a sophisticated computer system.

Dilip Siddhapura, of Queenswood Avenue, Hounslow was fined £700 by Brentford magistrates on February 8. He was ordered to pay £600 in prosecution costs, and must repay £2,067 in falsely claimed council tax benefit.

The 46-year-old was caught out by a computer data matching service used by Hounslow Council's Benefit Fraud Unit with information from Government departments and financial institutions. Matching cases are referred for further investigation.

Councillor Gerald McGregor, lead member for finance, said: "When people apply for benefit they are clearly told in the application instructions what they must declare in order to qualify.

"If people are not honest with us from the outset, and claim and receive public money they are not entitled to, then they risk being brought to court and prosecuted. Our message is clear, do not lie to us and claim money you are not entitled to receive.

"We have sophisticated computer systems at our disposal that look into people's finances, benefit claims, and other matters. You cannot beat this system, you will be caught - it is just a matter of time and you may end up with a criminal record."

Data matched by the fraud unit indicated that Siddhapura failed to notify Hounslow Council that he had a bank account. When interviewed by investigators, Siddhapura said he had forgotten about this account.

Siddhapura was charged with three offences under the Social Security Administration Act 1992, for failing to declare on his council tax benefit forms that he had the bank account.