A benefits cheat who claimed he could barely walk managed to climb ten flights of stairs while working at a bank and play cricket at weekends, a court has been told.

Tariq Aslam, of Coleshill Road, Hodge Hill, Birmingham, falsely pocketed £67,000 over an eight-year period after claiming he needed constant care.

But during a hearing at Birmingham Crown Court, Judge Roderick Henderson said that despite the defendant presenting himself as 'virtually incapable of doing anything', it was a significant and lengthy deception.

The 47-year-old had previously admitted two charges of failing to notify a change of circumstances and making a fraudulent claim.

Tariq Aslam, of Coleshill Road, Hodge Hill, Birmingham, falsely pocketed £67,000 over an eight-year period after claiming he needed constant care

Nigel Stelling, prosecuting, said the defendant first made a claim for Disability Living Allowance in 2000 and later got the mobility element increased following a review.

He subsequently filled in forms in 2005 and 2008, saying he was suffering from a variety of medical conditions, including diabetes and epilepsy and claiming that his vision was so poor that he could not cook.

He also claimed rheumatoid arthritis and kidney problems meant he could only walk short distances, and then only with the aid of a stick or walking frame.

Aslam further claimed he could not get out of a chair without assistance and had not driven for 20 years.

But an investigation revealed that he landed a job with Royal Bank of Scotland as a telephone adviser between 2002 and 2007.

Mr Stelling said: 'Inquiries with that organisation revealed that he was able to walk with no reported problem.

'He did not need any walking aids and did not need to rest when walking. In fact, he was able to walk up and down ten flights of stairs during fire drills.

'He did not tell his managers or supervisors that he had any issues, he was seen by staff to drive his own car and told colleagues that he played cricket at weekends.'

Birmingham Crown Court heard how the married father-of-five had no problem tackling stairs while working at a bank and that he even told colleagues that he played cricket at weekends

Aslam later got other jobs, including two with insurance companies, where he worked as a sales adviser, and also had no apparent difficulties with his mobility.

He told one employer that he swam regularly and lived a 'fit and healthy lifestyle'.

Mr Stelling added: 'From that it was clear that his capabilities far exceeded what he claimed in various applications.'

Gulam Ahmed, defending, said Aslam also had mental health issues and suffered from depression.

Sentencing him to 15 months jail, suspended for 21 months, Judge Henderson accepted the claim had initially been legitimate and that Aslam did suffer from some disabilities.