Calderdale's leading BNP councillor escaped a prison sentence today despite being convicted of cheating tax payers.

Richard Mulhall was found guilty by a jury in October of four counts of benefit fraud. He was sentenced at Teeside Crown Court to 200 hours of unpaid work.

Sentencing Mulhall, ward councillor for Illingworth and Mixenden, recorder Felicity Davies said: "You will be punished by being made to work for the benefit of the community that you have cheated."

Mulhall, 38, of Mozley Drive, Illingworth, Halifax, made false statements and failed to declare a change of circumstances to obtain a total of £3,002.95, including £1,833.82 in housing benefit, £603.18 in jobseekers allowance and £565.95 in council tax benefit.

He was also ordered to pay court costs of £2,000 and to pay back the jobseekers allowance to the Department for Work and Pensions. He has already repaid the housing benefit and council tax benefit to Calderdale Council.

More here:  http://82.69.12.18/lancasteruafblog/