Lisa Roskelly had only just finished an 18-month conditional discharge from a previous conviction in October 2007 for claiming £3,400 in housing and council tax benefits that she was not entitled to.
But less than three years later Mrs Roskelly was brought back to Yeovil Magistrates Court by South Somerset District Council for claiming an additional £2,000. She had failed to inform the district council that she was receiving Tax Credits.
Magistrates sentenced Mrs Roskelly to a further 12 months supervision order but also insisted that she undertakes 80 hours of unpaid work. She must also repay the full £2000 overpayment on top of the original fraudulent overpayments.
- There's a lot to learn from this. First, the government databases involved must communicate with each other. Otherwise, the confused will fall between the cracks and the fraudsters will exploit them.
Second, she was receiving tax credits even though she does not seem yet to have finished paying off the original fraud.
Third, the original sentence was clearly no deterrent to re-offending.
These people do it for the money. So hit them in the pocket. It was money that motivated them, and a financial penalty will help to deter them.
People convicted of benefit fraud should have to repay twice what they've stolen, and should not be eligible for any further benefits – including tax credits - until they have. A confiscation order should be automatic and immediate.
If you don't punish people who are convicted of an easy crime, the offence will continue to look attractive.
Theresa May, please note. Taxpayers lose around £3.5bn a year to benefit fraud.
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