Judge condones benefit fraud

A MOTHER-OF-FOUR who cheated taxpayers out of more than £66,000 during a six-year benefits fraud has walked free from court.

Jacqueline Poole from Thornaby was spared an immediate prison sentence after judge ruled that the money was spent only on "household necessities".

Poole claimed to be a single mother to collect Income Support, housing benefit and council tax relief between 2002 and September 2008.

Teesside Crown Court heard she was, in fact, living with a partner who was in work.

Her lawyer, Peter Wishlade, told the court that she received very little money from her boyfriend, and relied on benefits to make ends meet.

When she first claimed State hand-outs, Poole was living alone, but the claim became fraudulent when her partner moved in with her.

An investigation by officials revealed that the man used the address for car insurance, finance agreements and a home-shopping catalogue. Investigators also mounted a surveillance operation at the house, and watched the man leaving regularly, and his car parked outside.

James Kemp, prosecuting, said Poole continually denied he lived there in interview until she was confronted with the surveillance evidence.

She later said the man - the father of her youngest child - spent his pay on himself and his mates, and contributed little to the household.

"She said she wished to maintain some financial independence for herself and children," Mr Kemp said. "That bid for financial independence cost the taxpayer £66,403."

Mr Wishlade told Judge Peter Armstrong that the partner - they are now separated - had problems with alcohol, drugs and gambling.

"She was desperate, as many mothers would be, to provide for her children," Mr Wishlade added. "He was not providing anything.

"Although he was working, his response to the household bills was to say 'I will pay for the television' and the rest of his income went to the benefit of Ladbrokes, Coral, various breweries and drug dealers."

Poole, of Hawthorn Avenue, Thornaby, admitted two charges of failing to notify a change of circumstance at an earlier court hearing.

She was given a six-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, and ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid community work.

Poole wept as Judge Armstrong told her: "I have come to the conclusion that despite the large amount of money involved, it is appropriate to suspend the inevitable custodial sentence."

He added: "There has to be custody as a deterrent to you and anyone else who thinks it is appropriate to fiddle the taxpayer to this extent.

"Had it been that this money was being spent on an increased standard of living in your household, I have no doubt the public would be expecting you to be sent to prison immediately.

"The reason you would not have been entitled to them would be on the basis his income would contribute to the household, but it seems clear that he wasn't to any significant extent.

"The benefits you obtained unlawfully simply kept being spent on household necessities."