Benefit fraud couple jailed

See, it is possible to jail benefit thieves who are bringing up children.

A couple who committed nearly £73,000-worth of benefit fraud to help bring up the woman's two grandsons have been jailed at Plymouth Crown Court.

Jean Swift and her partner John Lawrence, of the same address, were both sent to prison for 10 months after the judge said he would send out the wrong message if he didn't.

James Taghdissian, prosecuting for the Department of Work and Pensions, said Swift and Lawrence had been in a relationship for some time.

In 1999, Swift applied for income support, stating she was a single parent looking after her grandchildren.

She filled in further forms in 2000 and 2002 , but failed to declare she was living with Lawrence, a situation which continued until she was caught in 2008 after a tip-off. (What took so long?)

Computer records before 2001 were lost, but between 2001 and 2008 Swift received £44,980.78 in income supplement which she was not entitled to.

In October 2001, she applied for housing and council tax benefit, netting a further £23,724.24, the total fraud being £72,947.64.

Swift initially denied but finally admitted fraud and Lawrence admitting aiding and abetting her.

Both told investigators they were in financial difficulties, and it was accepted they were not living a luxurious lifestyle.

Mr Taghdissian said Swift, 58, was now in work and repaying the money at £100 a month, having repaid £1,850 in two years.

The judge, Mr Recorder Alun Jenkins QC, said: "So as long as she lives another 70 years, the State will get its money back?"

Edward Bailey, for Swift, said she had known Lawrence for 25 years and he had stayed with her since 1997, though they did not live as man and wife.

Swift brought up her daughter's two sons, now teenagers, and looked after her son's daughter for most of the week.

She did not smoke or drink, and most of the money had gone on bringing up the children.

She had undergone treatment for cervical cancer, the court heard.

Mr Bailey claimed there was "a severe risk" the boys would have to go into care if Swift was jailed.

Jason Beal for Lawrence, said he left the Royal Navy at 45 in 1997 and founded a night club in Union Street.

However, after two years the venture collapsed and in 2008 he was made bankrupt.

He helped care for the children as a grandfather because no one else was there for them, he said.

Mr Recorder Jenkins told Swift and Lawrence: "You are both decent, law-abiding people who found it easy to supplement your income and justified it as being not really dishonest because you were bringing up young children.

"You thought it was an easy way out to run a fraud on the State.

"Benefit fraud is criminal, and I must demonstrate to everyone that this was a fraud on your fellow-taxpayers — the ordinary man next door paying his taxes.

"You have to go to prison."