Former BBC Rogue Traders presenter Dan Penteado has been jailed for 12 weeks for council tax and housing benefit fraud worth more than £24,000 (€30,000).
The 40-year-old had previously admitted eight offences of dishonestly or knowingly claiming the benefits while not declaring he earned more than £56,000 (€71,000) from the BBC.
The show saw him chase down bogus workmen with co-host Matt Allwright.
His solicitor Terrence Scanlan told Bournemouth Magistrates' Court Penteado committed the fraud from 2008 to 2012.
Mr Scanlan said Penteado was on a short-term contract with the BBC and made the "very poor judgement not to interrupt the flow of housing benefit".
Penteado was only caught when a council housing benefit officer recognised him on Rogue Traders and matched the name to his fraudulent application.
"This is not a victimless crime. It is actually a crime of stealing from the public purse," said chairman of the bench John Corben.
"It was planned over four years and it was calculated and we consider it so serious that only a custodial sentence is appropriate. You knew exactly what you were doing.
"You will be sentenced to 12 weeks in prison and it will not be suspended."
Penteado is to be axed from the show following the case, the BBC said.
A BBC spokesman said: "In light of the prosecution, Dan Penteado will not be returning to Rogue Traders."
