A COUNCILLOR and his wife who were this week cleared of benefit fraud have spoken publicly for the first time about their “devastating” ordeal.

After just two hours of deliberations a jury at Southwark Crown Court found Graham Sinclair, 56, and his wife Debra de la Nougerede, 50, not guilty of dishonestly claiming nearly £10,000.

The trial lasted a week but the pair’s ordeal started 18 months ago when they were called in for questioning by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

Reflecting over the past year-and-a-half, the couple said their initial reaction to the allegations had been one of disbelief.

Speaking exclusively to the Guardian, Mrs Sinclair said: “We were just stunned by the nature of the allegations, we could not understand it and we did not deserve it.

“And of course we were concerned about what people would believe or think about us without knowing the truth.

“It affected every aspect of our lives.”

Although the Sinclairs have not been criticised to their face by strangers, they said some of their acquaintances had behaved differently towards them since the charges had been made public.

Cllr Sinclair said: “It has certainly shown us who our true friends are, and those that are not.”

He added the Government’s currrent crackdown on benefit fraud was “politically-driven”, but he stopped short of criticising the DWP’s tactics.

The couple did, however, say they had been impressed by the British justice system throughout their trial.

Cllr Sinclair said: “Knowing I was totally innocent, it was my opportunity to speak to the jury and to the judge.

“It has strengthened my belief in the court system. In this country you are innocent until proven guilty and, in my opinion, it is the finest system in the world.

“I was totally convinced we would be acquitted."

The couple have been paying back the £9,700 since October 2007, as soon as they had been notified, and were then convinced, they had made an error.

After the isolation caused by the suspension of the Conservative whip, Cllr Sinclair said he hoped to concentrate on his role as Chingford Green ward councillor, focusing particularly on increasing community safety. He also plans to make a success of his car hire firm, which he founded last October.

Mrs Sinclair said she planned to concentrate on caring for her severely autistic daugther Fiona, who is 20, but has the needs of a 14-month-old child,