A MAN who fled to Britain after physically suffering under the Iraqi regime of Saddam Hussain has been spared an immediate prison sentence for cheating the public of more than £40,000 in benefits.

Hamid Osman, 36, obtained the cash for more than five years without declaring he had been living as husband and wife with a woman who was in full-time work.

Southampton Crown Court heard Osman began receiving income support in 2004 on the basis he was sick and incapable of work.

Prosecutor Ed Elton said he also got housing benefit and council tax benefit from 2008, confirming that on completing his application that he would notify the council promptly if there was a change in circumstances.

But he failed to do so and there was evidence he had been living with Vasilka Dinkina as husband and wife for four years until February 2012 and then from May to October of the same year.

Mr Elton said that for a period of 231 weeks and three days, he received income support, housing benefit and council tax benefit to which he was not entitled.

Had the true facts been known, then no benefit or a reduced amount of benefit would have been paid to him during that period.

Mr Elton said the total overpayment to him amounted to £43,231.03. That consisted of £21,425.84 income support, £18,676.84 housing benefit, and £3,128.35 in council tax benefit.

Osman, of Denzil Avenue, Southampton, admitted four counts of fraud. He received a ten-month suspended sentence and a four-month curfew.

Barnaby Shaw, mitigating, told the court how Osman had come to Britain after suffering under the Hussain regime, and his girlfriend had been living off and on with him as his carer.

Osman is repaying the cash through his current benefits.