A benefit cheat who stole another man’s identity to lead a money-grabbing double life was jailed for three years this afternoon.

James Ivor Jones, from South Croydon, pocketed almost £90,000 during the 13-year scam by claiming incapacity, housing and council tax benefits while secretly working several jobs using the fake name Stephen Gooding.

The 46-year-old’s scam was rumbled last April when the real Stephen Gooding attempted to claim benefits himself, with Department for Work and Pensions officers initially believing the latter was attempting to cheat the system.

At the time Jones, from Tedder Road, had used Mr Gooding’s name for seven years to work as a Croydon tram driver, and had just been promoted to ticket inspector because of his aptitude in the job.

He had previously used the same name to work as a minicab driver and at hardware store B&Q, all while claiming incapacity benefits for degenerative conditions Ankylosis Spondilosis and Reiter’s Syndrome.

Jones also claimed high rates of council tax and housing benefits from Croydon Council for the home he shared with wife Kay Wheadon-Jones, who covered for her husband when he admitted his deceit.

She avoided jail today after a judge decided she would not have become involved in the crime without pressure from her husband.

Wheadon-Jones, also 46, was sentenced to 12 months in prison suspended for two years, and ordered to perform 200 hours of unpaid work.

Sentencing the couple at Croydon Crown Court, Recorder Michael Wood QC said by conning benefits while working Jones had taken public money from people who really needed it and a job from someone more deserving.

He said: “You have also disgracefully brought you wife into this offence and caused her to lose her good character.”