A COUNCILLOR and his wife have been acquitted of benefit fraud charges.

At Southwark Crown Court this morning a jury unanimously found Cllr Graham Sinclair and his wife Deborah de La Nougedere Sinclair not guilty on all counts.

The couple, of Hatch Lane, Chingford, wept in the dock as the verdict was announced.

Cllr Sinclair, who represents the Chingford Green Ward, said: "I am elated, we believed we were innocent the whole time .

"We are pleased that the not guilty verdict has vindicated this.

"We now want to get on with our lives and I am going to do the duty which I was elected to do - which is to serve the residents of Waltham Forest."

Cllr Sinclair was cleared of dishonestly claiming nearly £10,000 of council tax benefit, housing benefit and income support by failing to notify the authorities of his members allowance.

The money will eventually have to be paid back.

Mrs Sinclair was found not guilty of making false representations on a claim form.

The Conservative whip has now been restored to Cllr Sinclair.

Cllr Matt Davis, Conservative group leader, said: “With this vindication I now hope that Graham and Debbie can put this unnecessary unpleasantness behind them and that Graham can return to representing the people of Chingford Green as he was elected to do.”

A Department of Work Pensions spokesman said: "The department has a duty to investigate those they suspect of benefit fraud and where appropriate take action which could include taking them to court.