The Great Britain wheelchair basketball star, who picked up a Paralympic bronze medals at both the Athens 2004 Games and Beijing 2008 Games, was in China when he discovered his money had been stopped and he was subject to an investigation.

The 35-year-old narrowly avoided jail after pleading guilty to two counts of benefit fraud.

Finbow was given an eight-week prison term, suspended for 12 months after Michael Rawlinson, prosecuting, told Leeds Crown Court how Finbow received regular monthly payments into his bank account from the UK Sports Lottery Fund over a five-year period.

Part of the grant was to fund Finbow’s place in the British wheelchair basketball team and his travel to the Paralympics.

The other part of the grant, which amounted to £500 per month, was to cover his living expenses.

Finbow however, failed to declare his change in circumstances and as a result was overpaid £22,427 ($33,213) by the Department of Work and Pensions.

He also failed to inform Kirklees Council and received housing and council tax benefits worth £7,648 ($11,326).

Finbow was arrested in March last year where he admitted to police he was "pretty naïve" and did not think he had to declare it.

The barrister revealed that Finbow admitted he should have informed authorities but it was not a case of someone simply going out to work while cheating the system and added that Finbow had already repaid £9,000 ($13,000) and would eventually pay back the full amount.

The court heard how Finbow, who has been playing wheelchair basketball since he was 17, had helped win bronze medals for his country in Athens and Beijing but how his performance had suffered since the arrest.

Finbow had been told by the sport’s governing body that if he keeps out of prison and maintains his fitness regime then competing at the London 2012 Paralympics is still a possibility.

Judge Geoffrey Marson told Finbow: "To obtain £30,000 of public money to which you are not entitled is a serious matter and it inevitably crosses the custody threshold.

"It is a tragedy to see a man like you in the crown court having pleaded guilty to such matters.

"I do not think I have ever come across a person who has suffered the tragedy which you suffered and fought to overcome it with such bravery and gusto.

"Your sporting achievements are second to none and you should be very proud of what you have achieved.

"But even that would not have saved you from custody had it not been for the particular circumstances of your case."

Finbow, who was named as one of the reserves for Britain's wheelchair basketball team that recently won gold at the BT Paralympic World Cup, declined to comment after the hearing.

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