A former Southall councillor who was convicted of falsely claiming more than £45,000 in housing benefits and income support has paid back the cash he was ordered to return.

Joginder Saroe, 63, of Beaconsfield Road, Southall, was convicted of dishonestly obtaining tens of thousands of pounds in benefits in May 2008.

Saroe, who represented Labour for Dormers Wells ward from May 2002 to May 2006, was sentenced to 10 months in prison, suspended for two years.

Following this, confiscation proceedings were started to get back the money he had scammed.

A confiscation order for £120,000 was obtained in September and the court gave him six months to repay the money he owed or face two years in prison.

The order expired this week and Ealing Council has recovered the full amount.

The former Ealing councillor claimed housing and council tax benefit for his home in Southall from August 1998 to July 2005 but failed to mention to the council that he owned a property in Hengoed Mid Glamorgan.

He was earning £250 per week for four years in rent from the property and almost £10,000 a year from leasing the garage.

Over a seven year period Saroe cheated Ealing Council out of more than £31,700 and a further £13,200 for his false claim for income support.

Councillor David Scott, Cabinet Member for Finance and Performance, said: "It’s disgraceful that anyone would try to cheat the system for their own gain, this money comes from the honest, hard-working taxpayer."

"It is even more shameful that a former councillor would go to such lows and I am pleased that he has had the sense to return the money that he was never entitled to in the first place. People have gone to prison for a lot less, Saroe has had a lucky escape."