Court tries not to punish repeat benefit thief

The Isle of Wight Council has successfully prosecuted a woman who illegally claimed over £1500 in benefits she was not entitled to, at a hearing at Newport Magistrates Court.

In October 2008, Elaine Bonnick was discovered to be claiming both housing benefit and council tax benefit despite claiming income support and Housing Benefit from another authority from an address in Hertfordshire.

Investigations discovered Mrs Bonnick had abandoned a property in Sylvan Drive in East Cowes on the Isle of Wight without informing the letting agent, but continued to claim benefits from Isle of Wight Council.

Mrs Bonnick had submitted a Housing Benefit claim form for the Hertfordshire property to North Hertfordshire District Council stating she had moved into the property in Letchworth Garden City on 1 August 2008.

Elaine Bonnick had previously been found guilty of illegally claiming benefits she was not entitled to at a hearing at Newport Magistrates Court in July 2008. At this hearing, she was given a 2 year conditional discharge and ordered to repay the money.

During a sentencing hearing held on 25 June 2009 at Newport Magistrates Court, the conditional discharge was revoked for the previous offence and Elaine Bonnick was given a 12 week custodial sentence, suspended for 2 years, with a supervision order of a year.

For the current offence, Mrs Bonnick was also given a custodial sentence of 12 weeks suspended for 2 years, with a supervision order of 12 months. Both sentences will run concurrently.