Suddenly a meaningful punishment for benefit fraud

A Garlinge woman has been fined £1,000 with £1,000 costs after being found guilty of benefit fraud.

Joanne Devlin was claiming housing benefit, based on the fact that she was a lone parent, but she failed to tell Thanet council that her landlord was also the father of her child, and she was therefore not entitled to claim housing benefit.

As a result, she was overpaid benefit of £2,412.

Magistrates found her guilty of the offence of making a false statement.