More benefit fraud cases

A benefits cheat, Edwina Stocker, who performed in her own murder mystery plays despite stating she had agoraphobia and a paralysed leg, has been given a jail sentence of 18 weeks, suspended for 12 months, after falsely claiming £10,666.

Donald Smith, who committed a £16,000 benefit fraud over three and a half years while employed as a council youth worker, has got away with a 12-month community order and a curfew order for six weeks between 8.30pm and 6am. He has started repaying the money. Because of the clunky way the legal system works, a proceeds of crime hearing will take place later this year.

And Patricia Veasey, who claimed she was too ill to work, received £48,000 in benefits over seven years despite having a full time job. Judge Alan Goldsack QC said it was a serious benefit fraud which would have meant jail – if it hadn't been for the two-year delay in bringing the case to court.

He said: "Because of the delay I am going to suspend the sentence. Why it takes so long to bring a straightforward case to the court I don't know, unless the DWP is chronically overworked or incompetent."

He sentenced her to 40 weeks' jail, suspended for one year, and 200 hours of unpaid community work.

The court heard she is repaying the incapacity benefit at £2 a fortnight and the other benefits at £13.20 a month.