A benefit cheat who claimed he was that ill that he could not feed himself or get dressed without help has been filmed working as a bingo caller and pub singer.

Geoffrey Lindley raised thousands of pounds for charities over six years in his role as an entertainer and bingo caller at bars in Lincolnshire while at the same time he received more than £50,000 in benefits after being classed with the highest level of disability allowance as a result of this poor "condition".

Prosecuting for the Department of Work and Pensions, Faye Mellor told Lincoln Crown Court: "He said he had angina, panic attacks and dizziness.

"He said he required help seven days and nights a week.

"He claimed he needed help going to the toilet, getting dressed, taking his medication and feeding himself.

"He stated he could walk a distance of ten metres in ten to 20 minutes before the onset of discomfort. He said he used a walking stick and did not go out on his own."

Geoffrey Lindley was investigated by the Department for Work and Pensions who were informed that he was in a somewhat different condition to what they expected.

"As a result of information obtained, officers began covert observations. He was working as an entertainer, singing and calling out bingo numbers.

"He didn't have any difficulty in walking or any discomfort. He was seen to kneel down and stand up without any assistance."

Lindley, 54, of Palma Court, Chapel St Leonards, admitted two charges of failing to notify the DWP of a change in circumstances relating to claims for incapacity benefit and disability living allowance between March 2003 and July 2009. During this time he had received £54,259. He was given a nine-month jail sentence suspended for two years with a 12 month supervision order.

Recorder Timothy Spencer QC told Lindley: "You obtained benefit to the tune of over £54,000 to which you were not entitled.

"The reality is that you would not have been able to afford to give money to charity had you not been subsidised by the state."

Colin Hart, argued that Lindley's initial claim for benefit was genuine, however he accepted that when his condition improved he did not tell the authorities. He claimed that ‘most’ of the money paid to Lindley for performances was given to charity which included the local Lifeboat Station and the British Heart Foundation.