Teacher admits second benefit fraud

Carolyn Powell, from Ware, admitted failing to notify East Herts Council of a change in her circumstances which she knew would affect her entitlement to benefits. She failed to declare that her award of incapacity benefit had ceased and that she was receiving a bursary from the NHS.

She was already under a conditional discharge given in January 2008 for other benefit fraud offences when she had made false statements by not revealing she was in receipt of child maintenance payments. On that occasion she was overpaid £981 in housing and council tax benefit between August 2006 and May 2007 and received a 12-month conditional discharge and was ordered to contribute £350 towards prosecution costs.

In the latest case, Ms Powell, a teacher at the Valley School in Stevenage, had been overpaid £1,301 housing benefit, and council tax benefit amounting to £360, between September 2007 and September 2008.

She was re-sentenced to 40 hours of unpaid work for the original offence and a further 60 hours of unpaid work in respect of the latest offences, to be completed in 12 months. She was ordered to pay £100 towards prosecution costs and she will also have to pay back the money.

• This recidivist is still teaching children?