Businessman Bill admits stealing thousands of pounds from the Government every year.

With a higher-than-average IQ and a successful business, he already has a healthy annual income of £20,000.

Despite his comfortable Brighton lifestyle however, he has been swindling about £12,000 a year in benefits to feed a drug habit.

The 25-year-old has conned the welfare system for five years and has no intention of stopping. He began claiming income support legally five years ago, when injuries from a fight left him too ill to work.

But when he recovered, he continued to cheat the Government out of cash. He lives with his girlfriend, who also claims benefit, and three children.

He said: "I've never had any trouble deceiving people. It's because people generally like to help other people. I'm just using that to my advantage. The bank account and the company are not in my name. There is no association between me and the company."

Bill will feature in a documentary on ITV called Cheats and Spies tomorrow night.

The documentary is produced by Brighton-based journalist James Trollope, 47, and tells the stories of people living in the South-East who have tried to beat the system.

Bill, whose IQ of 161 would qualify him for Mensa, speaks candidly about his fraud and drug addiction.

He said: "I can't justify it (drugs) because it's my own fault. I shouldn't claim for that reason but I do."

The self-confessed cheat even admits coaching others in how to claim illegally, including his brother.

He said: "I've never had any trouble at all from the benefit agencies over the years and I have never heard of anybody else ever having trouble .

"The agencies do not investigate you without reason. They normally have too much else to do. So unless somebody comes forward with information, they are not going to investigate me."

Bill's attitude has shocked those responsible for combating welfare fraud.

Malcolm Wicks is the government minister responsible.

He said: "Social security fraudsters have got away with it for far too long. Now we are fighting back. I would say to Bill there will come a time when someone will tap on your shoulder and we will get you.

"Benefit fraud is a serious crime, robbing us all of money. If you saw someone stealing £30,000 from a bank you would phone the police. So if you suspect someone of committing fraud you should phone us."

The Department of Work and Pensions, formerly the Benefits Agency, estimates welfare fraud costs Sussex taxpayers at least £80 a year each. The annual cost nationwide is more than £2 billion. Fraud investigators rely on informers to catch benefit cheats and have set up a hotline.

Despite the efforts to crack down on fraudsters, Bill is undeterred.

He said: "I actually think it is more widespread than people realise. It's very, very easy."

Cheats and Spies will be shown at 10.30pm as part of the Meridian Focus series.

To report benefit fraud call 0800 854440.