Light sentences for big benefit frauds

Paul Thomas and Lynne Jones from Telford, who swindled taxpayers out of £47,044 in benefits they were not entitled to over five years, have been given eight-month prison sentences suspended for 18 months, and told to pay costs of £125 each. Thomas has to do 250 hours’ unpaid work and Jones 100 hours’ unpaid work plus a 12-month supervision order.

• Presumably we won't get the money back.

Tracy Lincoln, from Whitby, who claimed more than £30,000 in benefits after failing to declare an inheritance of nearly £25,000, has been sentenced to a 12-month community punishment order with 200 hours’ unpaid work, with £250 costs to the DWP and £147 to Scarborough Council. The couple are currently paying off the fraudulent gains out of Mr Lincoln’s Job Seekers’ Allowance!

• That's more money we won't get back.

A Newport mother of three who falsely claimed almost £25,000 in benefits over eight years after failing to declare she was living with her husband has been sentenced to a 26 week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months. Donna Marie Webb also received 200 hours unpaid work and 12 months supervision order.

She "has made arrangements to repay the full amount", with monthly repayments of £120 a month for housing benefit and £50 for council tax. So far she has repaid £367.12.