Stuart Matthews, 41, is said to have wrongly continued to receive benefits from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) despite his mother having died two years previously.

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He is also accused of failing to register Josephine Matthews' death in order to retain her on-going pension payments.

The alleged fraud is said to have started in December 2021 and continued until October 2023.

Matthews, of Salisbury Way in Thetford, is charged with three counts of fraud by false representation, including that he benefited financially by claiming approximately £20,000 from the DWP.

Another of the allegations is that he made false representations intending to make a gain of £10,489 from private pension firm Aptia by claiming that his mother was still alive and due on-going payments.

His case was committed to Norwich Crown Court where he is due to enter pleas at a trial preparation hearing on May 8.

He is currently on unconditional bail.

© Eastern Daily Press