A Gloucester woman who claimed thousands of pounds in benefits – despite owning two homes – walked free from court yesterday.
Mum-of-one Tatjana Akins, 44, cheated the state out of more than £35,000 between 2001 and February 2007.
Throughout that time she owned a house in Morpeth Street, Gloucester, and in 2006 she bought a second house in the city's Longford area.
She wrongly claimed £16,800 housing benefit, £8,700 Jobseekers' allowance, £6,000 income support and £3,400 council tax benefit.
Recorder Tm Mousley, QC, sentenced her to 12 months in jail, suspended for two years, and ordered her to do 200 hours of unpaid community work.
The prosecution told the court that in 2001 Akins claimed to be single and unemployed with one child and no assets or property.
"In fact, at that time, and since 1997, she had owned a property in Morpeth Street, Gloucester, and from September 2006 she also owned another property in Longford Lane.
"On her application forms in 2001 and thereafter on various renewed applications she was asked if she owned any property or significant assets whether mortgaged or not mortgaged and she said 'No'." More about her assets
htp Percy
That doesn't seem much of a punishment for this deliberate fraud. Do we get our money back?
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