£13k benefit fraud

Paul Clansey, from York, had thousands of pounds of savings but didn’t declare them and was then overpaid £13,065 in income support, jobseeker's allowance, housing benefit and council tax benefit. Pretty thorough, our Mr Clansey.

He was given a 12-month community order, told to complete 240 hours of unpaid work and ordered to pay costs of £75.

Magistrates heard he failed to declare six bank accounts that regularly contained more than £8,000 in savings, and sometimes as much as £15,000.

A council spokeswoman said: “Mr Clansey admitted having undeclared bank accounts, but said that he had been loaned the money by friends or parents and had made money from the sale of two motorbikes. However, he denied knowledge of some of the accounts, even though they were in his name.”

• There is no word in the report of repayment.
  
  People convicted of benefit fraud should have to repay twice the amount and should not be eligible for any further benefits – including tax credits - until they have.

htp Dave