Kevin Richardson was found guilty at Feltham Magistrates court. The fraud came to light when he failed to notify the council that his jobseekers allowance had ended, meaning that he was no longer automically entitled to claim housing benefit.
Mr Richardson was first summoned to appear at Brentford Magistrates Court in August 2009, but failed to attend, and the case was adjourned until early September. When Mr Richardson didn’t attend the hearing again in September, the case was heard and proven in his absence and a warrant issued for his arrest.
He was arrested in September and taken to Feltham Magistrates court where he was released on bail to enable him to obtain legal advice.
As a result of his actions, Mr Richardson was ordered to complete 120 hours of community service pay costs of £500 and to repay the benefits falsely claimed back in full.
- A steep penalty relative to the crime - good.
But claimants shouldn't have to trail from one agency to another in this age of databases, especially as it only puts temptation in their way. Databases should communicate!
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