A district councillor appeared in court today charged with benefit fraud.

Chiltern District Councillor Howard Trevette has been charged with fraudulently claiming nearly £18,000 in benefits from the authority he represents while his wife Danna faces five charges.

The couple did not enter a plea at this morning’s hearing at Aylesbury Crown Court and the case was adjourned for a plea and case management hearing on February 18, 2015.

This will take place at either Aylesbury or Amersham Crown Court and a trial has been timetabled to start on February 23.

Cllr Trevette, who represents the Amersham Town ward, was suspended by the CDC Conservative group when the allegations came to light, it is believed.

At an earlier hearing the court heard the pair were jointly charged with failing to disclose Cllr Trevette was in receipt of a council allowance; that Cllr Trevette was in receipt of a lump sum pension payment; and that Cllr Trevette failed to give prompt notification of a change in circumstances affecting entitlement to benefit after receiving £208,079.40.

The couple have been granted unconditional bail.