A REDDITCH man accused of scamming almost £70,000 in taxpayer's cash with false benefit claims has denied the charges.

Ricky Parker-Smythe, aged 68, appeared at Worcester Crown Court on Monday, July 29 where he pleaded not guilty to three counts of conning benefit payments from the authorities.

Prosecutors claim that between January 1996 and January 2010, he cheated the public purse out of £65,039.34 in income support and pension credit, while also claiming £3,596.63 in housing and council tax benefit in September 2009.

In both cases, he failed to declare he was living with a partner, it is alleged.

Parker-Smythe, of Bridley Moor Road, is also accused of continuing to claim pension credit between April 2007 and September 2011, despite having savings of more than the limit imposed by the Department for Work and Pensions, which the court heard is around £16,000.

He was granted unconditional bail until his trial on September 13.