A DUP politician who was accused of benefit fraud has been cleared of any wrongdoing after a judge threw out the case against him.

East Antrim MLA David Hilditch was accused of dishonestly failing to inform the Social Security Agency promptly about improvements to his condition which would affect his entitlement to Disability Living Allowance.

The former Mayor of Carrickfergus suffers from osteoarthritis — a degenerative bone and joint condition which limits his mobility — and had been receiving DLA, which is not means tested, for the condition.

However an investigation was launched into the politician, who sits on the Assembly body responsible for scrutinising social security payments, after it emerged he had taken part in a charity inter-parliamentary football tournament in London in 2007.

During the hearing in Belfast yesterday the court was shown video evidence recorded by fraud investigators of Mr Hilditch walking without crutches on three separate occasions during a two-and-a-half-week period at the start of 2008.

When asked by the prosecution if he could explain how he was able to move about unaided or in pain, the 46-year-old replied:“I see |myself in considerable pain in some of those shots. It was a good day compared to some. That's the day I was |observed and I can't do anything about that.”

The court also heard how the DUP MLA had contacted the Social Security Agency in February 2008 to inform them that he wanted to relinquish DLA before he knew he was being probed.

District Judge Ken Nixon dismissed the case, saying he was “not satisfied that this complaint is made out”.

Speaking after he was |acquitted, Mr Hilditch said he was “very happy” with the result, adding the past few months had “taken its toll”.

Belfast Telegraph