A former soldier who climbed Mount Kilimanjaro and won a triathlon while fraudulently claiming thousands of pounds in disability benefits has been jailed.

Mark Lloyd also competed in the Phoenix Winter Games and took part in the World Powerboat Championships in Malta while receiving Personal Independence Payments (PIP) from October 2014 to February 2016.

The 33-year-old told benefits assessors that he had severe restrictions to his mobility and ability to care for himself after suffering a back injury and post-traumatic stress disorder while serving in the Parachute Regiment in Afghanistan but was found to have overstated his needs.

After a trial at Merthyr Magistrates' Court he was found guilty of dishonestly failing to disclose information to make a gain for himself.

On Thursday, District Judge Martin Brown said the claims were "completely and utterly fanciful".

Sentencing Lloyd, from Pontypridd, South Wales, to 20 weeks in prison, he said: "You have blatantly lied to this court throughout and I hope that you will reflect on that throughout your sentence."

The court heard that the first form filled out by Lloyd, who denied the charge, for his claim was inaccurate and a later form was even more so.

He was paid £6,551.80 in benefits over a period when he climbed Africa's highest peak over five days of walking between eight and 12 hours per day.

Judge Brown said Lloyd took part in a series of "gruelling" events while claiming the payments, for which he attracted publicity and "plaudits".

James Harris, representing LLoyd, from Pontypridd, South Wales, said the conviction meant he was in breach of a suspended sentence imposed for a previous offence.

Judge Brown, who said he did not have the details of that incident, added: "He claims he could only walk between 20 to 50 metres."

Mr Harris said he did not think that was "necessarily indicative of his mobility" and added that it was committed before he was diagnosed with PTSD.

He said Lloyd lived in rented accommodation and saw his daughter regularly.

Lloyd was now self-employed, having started out as a sole trader after the offences came to light with an online affiliate marketing and Bitcoin mining business, he said.

The court heard Lloyd had started to repay the money to the benefits agency.

Mr Harris said his client still had mental and physical problems and was due in hospital for a scan in relation to a lump and for surgery on his back.

The judge activated eight weeks of the previous suspended sentence but ordered that to be served concurrently to the 20 weeks.

He also ordered Lloyd pay £620 in costs and £115 victim surcharge.