A JOB Centre employee has been jailed after hatching an elaborate plot that saw him steal £52,000 of benefit money.

Hamza Dost, 24, of Newton-le-Willows, swindled the cash over a 12-month period while working at Job Centre Plus on Mersey Street, Warrington.

Warrington Crown Court heard how it was Dost’s job as a £20k-a-year executive officer to assist benefit claimants back to work.

He abused that position to swindle thousands of pounds of public money - using the money to buy an exotic holiday to Malaysia, according to work colleagues.

Dost was authorised to make payments to job hopefuls for transport expenses so they could attend interviews.

Instead the defendant made hundreds of payments to three friends who hoarded the cash in bank accounts before splitting it with Dost, of Crown Gardens, Newton.

Prosecuting, Martin McRobb said: “The fraud started three months after the defendant began working at the Job Centre.

“He abused the trust placed in him. All payments were made by Dost and he was easily identified for this scheme of dishonesty.”

Dean Lavery, 26, Gareth Jones, 25, and Christopher McMahon, 25, all pleaded guilty to conspiracy to steal after accepting the pilfered money.

Dost could make electronic payments for £15 or over, or provide cash or cheques for a smaller amount, the court heard.

The former law student, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to steal and theft, made 158 payments in total.

More than £14,000 was paid to Lavery, of Vulcan Village in 93 payments made into three different bank accounts.

He also sent £10,699 to Jones, of Legh Street, Earlestown, in 47 payments.

Jones was also claiming disability allowance at the time for depression.

A further 18 payments to McMahon, of Shackleton Close, Old Hall, were made that scammed a further £6,480 of benefit cash.

Dost even sought to deceive his family when he paid £19,865 into his sister’s bank account.

She believed it was his wages and had no knowledge that her brother was stealing the money, the court heard.

Defending Dost, who has no previous convictions, Owen Edwards said: “He accepts the lion’s share of responsibility.

“He stole public money that was meant to be put to a better use, but has a gambling problem.”

Dost was jailed for 14 months. Lavery and Jones, who has previous convictions for possessing an offensive weapon and possession of cocaine, were handed eight months in prison suspended for two years.

They will both also do 200 hours of unpaid work.

McMahon, who has previous convictions for possession with intent to supply Class A drugs and possession of a blade, was sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for two years, and 150 hours of unpaid work.

Judge Roger Dutton said: “This was rank dishonesty and you all took the chance to earn a bit of money.”