Recorder Christopher Forsyth loses the plot

The Recorder's comments encapsulate excuses for judicial weakness. No violence, no 'immediate vicim' ... so no need for a serious sentence even though 'it is a crime that is very easy to commit'.

As long as wimps like Recorder Christopher Forsyth sit on the bench passing feeble sentences for a crime which is so easy to commit that it costs taxpayers at least £2bn a year, there is no hope of making serious inroads into this scandalous bleeding of taxpayers.

But no doubt Recorder Christopher Forsyth was left with a warm feeling.

Vivien Bell claimed over £41,000 in housing benefit, income support and council tax benefit - despite having thousands of pounds hidden away in savings accounts and a property worth more than £250,000.

With the help of her parents, she has paid back the money owed to the council and all but £2,000 of her debt to the DWP.

Melanie Benn, mitigating, said Bell had made an "extremely naive and stupid decision" to fraudulently claim the benefits.

Recorder Christopher Forsyth said Bell's family "should not become the victims" of her crime, adding: "This is not a violent crime and there is no immediate victim, it is not a breach of trust, but it is a crime that is very easy to commit."

The court heard Bell had a property worth £265,000 bought for her in 2007, as well as having more than £10,000 in one bank account, £32,000 in another and depositing another £20,000 in 2005.

Bell was given a nine-month jail sentence suspended for 12 months and ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid community work. She must also pay £760 in costs.

htp Dave