A benefit cheat was caught out after being spotted promoting his business on the pages of the Macclesfield Express.
Cheshire East council believed Antony Cunsolo, 33, was unemployed and entitled to council tax benefit, when the article appeared in January.
But eagle-eyed officials spotted that Mr Cunsolo was named as manager of the car valeting firm Cheshire Auto-Shine in the story and was talking about the business’s success.
Sheela Dutton, prosecuting, said: "The manager of the company was said to be this defendant."
The story, on our business page, said the firm had continued to prosper despite the recession. Cunsolo was quoted as saying: "It’s going well. On the weekend we’re very busy."
Mrs Dutton said investigations showed he had stopped receiving job seeker’s allowance in April 2010, meaning he was no longer entitled to the council tax benefit. The court heard Mr Cunsolo was overpaid to the sum of £576.
Mrs Dutton said: "This is not normally a case that would come before the court.
"He was invited to an interview but there was no contact at all."
Cunsolo, of Barracks Square, Macclesfield, admitted failing to notify a change of circumstances which affected his benefit entitlement at Macclesfield magistrates’ court.
Defending himself, he said: "I had that much going on at the time I just didn’t realise. As soon as I did I paid it back. I’m just sorry it’s got this far."
He was fined £50 and ordered to pay costs of £595, with a £15 victim surcharge.
