A woman from Westbourne who falsely claimed £34,253 in benefits has been sent to prison. Gina McQueen had failed to report that she had a partner living with her who was working.
She had continued to claim as a lone parent with three children and did not tell Chichester District Council or the DWP of the change in her living arrangements.
She was overpaid income support, housing benefit and council tax benefit for almost three years from November, 2005.
McQueen was sentenced to 20 weeks in prison at Chichester Crown Court.
30 Apr 2010
29 Apr 2010
Jail for benefit thief
A benefit cheat who claimed he could barely walk or dress himself has been jailed for five years after a judge heard details of his money-making scams.
David Martin, of Laisterdyke, Bradford, pocketed more than £23,000 in disability living allowance and income support over a six-year period but was amassing further cash through a driving job at a delivery firm, acting as a local fence for stolen goods, counterfeiting DVDs and selling bootleg tobacco.
He pleaded guilty to offences including acquiring criminal property, failing to disclose details of his savings and handling stolen goods.
At Bradford Crown Court yesterday he was given a six month prison term for the benefit-related offences and Judge Jonathan Durham Hall QC imposed a series of consecutive sentences for the other matters taking the total jail term to five years.
David Martin, of Laisterdyke, Bradford, pocketed more than £23,000 in disability living allowance and income support over a six-year period but was amassing further cash through a driving job at a delivery firm, acting as a local fence for stolen goods, counterfeiting DVDs and selling bootleg tobacco.
He pleaded guilty to offences including acquiring criminal property, failing to disclose details of his savings and handling stolen goods.
At Bradford Crown Court yesterday he was given a six month prison term for the benefit-related offences and Judge Jonathan Durham Hall QC imposed a series of consecutive sentences for the other matters taking the total jail term to five years.
28 Apr 2010
Benefit fraud in Tamworth
Benefit cheats who illegally claimed almost £30,000 in benefits have been successfully prosecuted by Tamworth Borough Council and the Department for Work and Pensions.
The three women between them claimed over £28,000 in Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit and Job Seekers Allowance.
Details of the three women in question who attended Tamworth Magistrates Court are:-
Katie Broomhall, 23, Honeybourne, Belgrave, Tamworth.
* Failed to declare she was in paid employment for various periods between 2004 and 2009.
* Total overpayment – £18,945.64. Made up of £8,675.58 Housing Benefit; £2,371.73 Council Tax Benefit and £7,898.33 Job Seekers Allowance.
* Outcome: Four month sentence, suspended for 12 months, 100 hours unpaid work and a supervision order. Ordered to pay costs of £100 and repay the overpayment.
Georgina Warren, 19, Dormer Avenue, Bolehall.
Failed to declare her partner was in paid employment during a 4 month period.
Total overpayment – £2,263.74. Made up of £1,716.14 Job Seekers Allowance, £422.62 Housing Benefit and £124.98 Council Tax Benefit.
Outcome: £130 fine, ordered to pay £100 costs, a victim surcharge and repay the overpayment.
Jaime Hunt, 33, of Dunedin, Glascote
Failed to declare she was living with her partner and had claimed as a single person during this period.
Total overpayment – £5,128.01, which consisted of £1,565.25 Income Support, £3,120.00 Housing Benefit and £442.76 Council Tax Benefit
Outcome: £200 fine. Ordered to pay costs of £100, a victim surcharge and repay the overpayment.
The three women between them claimed over £28,000 in Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit and Job Seekers Allowance.
Details of the three women in question who attended Tamworth Magistrates Court are:-
Katie Broomhall, 23, Honeybourne, Belgrave, Tamworth.
* Failed to declare she was in paid employment for various periods between 2004 and 2009.
* Total overpayment – £18,945.64. Made up of £8,675.58 Housing Benefit; £2,371.73 Council Tax Benefit and £7,898.33 Job Seekers Allowance.
* Outcome: Four month sentence, suspended for 12 months, 100 hours unpaid work and a supervision order. Ordered to pay costs of £100 and repay the overpayment.
Georgina Warren, 19, Dormer Avenue, Bolehall.
Failed to declare her partner was in paid employment during a 4 month period.
Total overpayment – £2,263.74. Made up of £1,716.14 Job Seekers Allowance, £422.62 Housing Benefit and £124.98 Council Tax Benefit.
Outcome: £130 fine, ordered to pay £100 costs, a victim surcharge and repay the overpayment.
Jaime Hunt, 33, of Dunedin, Glascote
Failed to declare she was living with her partner and had claimed as a single person during this period.
Total overpayment – £5,128.01, which consisted of £1,565.25 Income Support, £3,120.00 Housing Benefit and £442.76 Council Tax Benefit
Outcome: £200 fine. Ordered to pay costs of £100, a victim surcharge and repay the overpayment.
27 Apr 2010
No punishment for £19k benefit thieves
For someone who had been confined to a wheelchair for 25 years, Geoffrey Montford’s sudden recovery was remarkable by any standards, reports The Express.
A parachuting accident while in the Army had left him unable to walk and needing help to cut up his food, go to the toilet and take a bath, he claimed.
But neighbours became sceptical and contacted benefit fraud investigators. And Montford, 66, was caught displaying all the attributes of a character from TV’s Little Britain.
Just like Matt Lucas’s Andy in the smash-hit BBC series he seemed to manage quite well without a wheelchair and often left it at home to walk his dog 300 yards, a court heard.
DWP officials who mounted an undercover operation saw him kicking and throwing a ball for the dog. They also monitored him strolling quite comfortably around his local ASDA store and showing no sign of distress as he loaded and unloaded shopping from his car. And all the time he was fiddling state benefits.
Montford claimed the highest rates for care and disability. With his 76-year-old wife Jean also milking the system they fraudulently claimed more than £19,000 between them. His deception, which mirrored that of Andy who would leap out of his wheelchair when his carer’s back was turned, was revealed when the couple appeared before magistrates in Blackpool.
Montford sat in a wheelchair alongside the dock. The couple, from Fleetwood, Lancs, both admitted failing to notify the DWP of a change of circumstances which they knew would affect their entitlement to benefits.
A parachuting accident while in the Army had left him unable to walk and needing help to cut up his food, go to the toilet and take a bath, he claimed.
But neighbours became sceptical and contacted benefit fraud investigators. And Montford, 66, was caught displaying all the attributes of a character from TV’s Little Britain.
Just like Matt Lucas’s Andy in the smash-hit BBC series he seemed to manage quite well without a wheelchair and often left it at home to walk his dog 300 yards, a court heard.
DWP officials who mounted an undercover operation saw him kicking and throwing a ball for the dog. They also monitored him strolling quite comfortably around his local ASDA store and showing no sign of distress as he loaded and unloaded shopping from his car. And all the time he was fiddling state benefits.
Montford claimed the highest rates for care and disability. With his 76-year-old wife Jean also milking the system they fraudulently claimed more than £19,000 between them. His deception, which mirrored that of Andy who would leap out of his wheelchair when his carer’s back was turned, was revealed when the couple appeared before magistrates in Blackpool.
Montford sat in a wheelchair alongside the dock. The couple, from Fleetwood, Lancs, both admitted failing to notify the DWP of a change of circumstances which they knew would affect their entitlement to benefits.
They were each given a 12-month conditional discharge.
26 Apr 2010
Unpaid work for £13k benefit theft
Spelthorne Council has recently secured the conviction of a Shepperton woman for fraudulently claiming Housing and Council Tax benefit from the Council and Jobseekers Allowance from the DWP.
Miss Sonya Strutt, aged 43 of Shepperton pleaded guilty to 11 charges of benefit fraud under the Social Security Administration Act 1992. On 15 April 2010, Staines Magistrates’ Court sentenced Miss Strutt to a 12 month Community Order under which she will be required to undertake 200 hours of unpaid work in the community. She now has a criminal record and was also ordered to pay £382, the costs of the prosecution, to the Council.
Miss Strutt failed to notify both the Council and the DWP that she had a second job and later continued in this job whilst claiming to be unemployed. She dishonestly claimed a total of £13,833 in benefits to which she was not entitled and has now made arrangements to repay this amount by way of instalments.
Miss Sonya Strutt, aged 43 of Shepperton pleaded guilty to 11 charges of benefit fraud under the Social Security Administration Act 1992. On 15 April 2010, Staines Magistrates’ Court sentenced Miss Strutt to a 12 month Community Order under which she will be required to undertake 200 hours of unpaid work in the community. She now has a criminal record and was also ordered to pay £382, the costs of the prosecution, to the Council.
Miss Strutt failed to notify both the Council and the DWP that she had a second job and later continued in this job whilst claiming to be unemployed. She dishonestly claimed a total of £13,833 in benefits to which she was not entitled and has now made arrangements to repay this amount by way of instalments.
24 Apr 2010
"Benefit fraud is rife, and few offenders are caught"
A former Salford council worker, who cheated the taxpayer out of more than £44,000 in benefit payments to which she was not entitled, has been jailed for eight months.
Mum-of-four Mary Tombling, lied in order to get income support, housing benefit and council tax benefits over a five-year period.
Manchester's Minshull Street Crown Court was told that the 36-year old had been legitimately entitled to the benefit payments for a period of two years, but when she set up home with her former partner's brother, she claimed to be a single mum, living on her own.
Mrs Tombling, from Northallerton Road, Salford, was told by Judge Jonathan Foster:
Natalie Cornwall prosecuting told the court that Tombling had received overpayments of more than £25,000 in income support, more than £15,000 in housing benefit, and almost £4,000 in council tax benefit between April 2003 and September 2008.
In June 2005 she then made a false representation to Salford Council, affirming that no other adult was living with her.
When caught out in September 2008, she claimed her partner, Paul Tombling, only stayed at her home for one or two nights, but she later admitted they had been living together since 2003.
Gareth Jones, defending, said that Mrs Tombling's claims had not been fraudulent from the outset. She had been entitled to the benefit payments after she separated from her ex husband John Tombling in 2002.
The court was told she was left in the position of caring for two young children and having to deal with thousands of pounds in rent arrears. He said it was not a case where she was living a life of luxury on benefits to which she was not entitled. The family lived in a modest rented property, and her partner had been made redundant last year.
Mr Jones said: "She fully accepts that her conviction in 2006 should have alerted her to the importance of making full declarations to the DWP.”
He added: “She is sincerely sorry for what she has done, and is repaying the money she has been overpaid.”
Tombling who pleaded guilty to three charges of failing to notify authorities of a change in her circumstances and one charge of making a false representation, was told by Judge Foster: “Your offences over a period of some five years involved sums totalling more than £44,000.
“The aggravating feature of this case is that in the middle of this period, you were charged with, and pleaded guilty, to a similar offence of failing to notify the relevant authorities of a change in your circumstances, namely that you were at that point working.
“It was a warning to you, and I regret to say that it was one that went unheeded.”
h/t Nigel
Mum-of-four Mary Tombling, lied in order to get income support, housing benefit and council tax benefits over a five-year period.
Manchester's Minshull Street Crown Court was told that the 36-year old had been legitimately entitled to the benefit payments for a period of two years, but when she set up home with her former partner's brother, she claimed to be a single mum, living on her own.
Mrs Tombling, from Northallerton Road, Salford, was told by Judge Jonathan Foster:
Benefit fraud is rife, and few offenders are caught. When the amount is significant over a period of time, both offenders and the public must expect there to be an immediate custodial sentence.He said a key factor in his decision to send her to prison was the fact that during the period in question, she had already faced a similar charge of failing to notify the DWP of a change in her circumstances, when she claimed to be unemployed, but was in fact working as a general assistant for Salford Council. She was given a conditional discharge for two years after admitting the offence.
Natalie Cornwall prosecuting told the court that Tombling had received overpayments of more than £25,000 in income support, more than £15,000 in housing benefit, and almost £4,000 in council tax benefit between April 2003 and September 2008.
In June 2005 she then made a false representation to Salford Council, affirming that no other adult was living with her.
When caught out in September 2008, she claimed her partner, Paul Tombling, only stayed at her home for one or two nights, but she later admitted they had been living together since 2003.
Gareth Jones, defending, said that Mrs Tombling's claims had not been fraudulent from the outset. She had been entitled to the benefit payments after she separated from her ex husband John Tombling in 2002.
The court was told she was left in the position of caring for two young children and having to deal with thousands of pounds in rent arrears. He said it was not a case where she was living a life of luxury on benefits to which she was not entitled. The family lived in a modest rented property, and her partner had been made redundant last year.
Mr Jones said: "She fully accepts that her conviction in 2006 should have alerted her to the importance of making full declarations to the DWP.”
He added: “She is sincerely sorry for what she has done, and is repaying the money she has been overpaid.”
Tombling who pleaded guilty to three charges of failing to notify authorities of a change in her circumstances and one charge of making a false representation, was told by Judge Foster: “Your offences over a period of some five years involved sums totalling more than £44,000.
“The aggravating feature of this case is that in the middle of this period, you were charged with, and pleaded guilty, to a similar offence of failing to notify the relevant authorities of a change in your circumstances, namely that you were at that point working.
“It was a warning to you, and I regret to say that it was one that went unheeded.”
h/t Nigel
23 Apr 2010
Benefit claimant owned house
A Widnes resident who sold his house without telling Halton Borough Council has pleaded guilty to benefit fraud.
James Benson, 62, of Margaret Court, pleaded guilty at Runcorn magistrates court to dishonestly failing to notify the council of a change in circumstances.
He was ordered to repay £6,082.20 in benefits and given 100 hours of community service. He was also told to pay £150 council costs.
Benson had sold a house in Hunts Cross, Liverpool, for £134,000 in February 2008. At the time he was claiming housing and council tax benefit while claiming he lived in a flat on Upper Mersey Road in Widnes.
His claim was cancelled in April last year when his landlord told the council that a new tenant had moved in to the flat.
A Halton Borough Council spokesman said that Benson had claimed he had lived at and sold the house on Barford Road, at which point he asked for the interview to be suspended for him to seek legal advice.
He later admitted that he had received £134,000 from the sale of the Barford Road property in February 2008 and that he had used some of this money to buy a Parsonage Road house.
James Benson, 62, of Margaret Court, pleaded guilty at Runcorn magistrates court to dishonestly failing to notify the council of a change in circumstances.
He was ordered to repay £6,082.20 in benefits and given 100 hours of community service. He was also told to pay £150 council costs.
Benson had sold a house in Hunts Cross, Liverpool, for £134,000 in February 2008. At the time he was claiming housing and council tax benefit while claiming he lived in a flat on Upper Mersey Road in Widnes.
His claim was cancelled in April last year when his landlord told the council that a new tenant had moved in to the flat.
A Halton Borough Council spokesman said that Benson had claimed he had lived at and sold the house on Barford Road, at which point he asked for the interview to be suspended for him to seek legal advice.
He later admitted that he had received £134,000 from the sale of the Barford Road property in February 2008 and that he had used some of this money to buy a Parsonage Road house.
22 Apr 2010
More local benefit fraud totals
More than half a million pounds of fraudulent benefit claims have been uncovered in a major campaign in East Dunbartonshire.
The detection rate for the past 12 months is more than double that of the previous year and is a record for the area. More
Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council benefit fraud in 2009-2010 of £117,304. More
But none of this means anything unless they tell us the proportion of benefits paid out that these local totals represent.
The detection rate for the past 12 months is more than double that of the previous year and is a record for the area. More
Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council benefit fraud in 2009-2010 of £117,304. More
But none of this means anything unless they tell us the proportion of benefits paid out that these local totals represent.
21 Apr 2010
Benefit cheat owned house
A benefit cheat has been sentenced to 280 hours community service after being caught out by council workers.
David Gibbons, 33, fraudulently applied for housing and council tax benefits by claiming he rented his home in The Limes, Abridge.
In fact he owned the house - something Epping Forest District Council officers discovered when they uncovered a previous benefit application form he completed in July 2008 in which he named himself as the owner.
At a hearing at Harlow Magistrates’ Court on Saturday March 6, Gibbons pleaded guilty to two counts of benefit fraud.
He then failed to attend a sentencing hearing on Tuesday April 6 so a warrant for his arrest was issued, but he returned to court of his own volition on Friday April 9.
Gibbons was sentenced to a 24-month Community Order with 280 hours unpaid work.
He was also ordered to pay the council’s prosecution costs of £648.
A council spokesman said: "He claimed to rent the property in The Limes, Abridge as an assured shorthold tenant.
"Giving details of his landlord, rent, the date he had moved in and claimed that he did not own his own home and that he had never owned the property.
"He also provided a letter from the purported letting agent confirming details of his tenancy.
"Following the receipt of these benefit claims forms from David Gibbons, officers at Epping Forest District Council carried out investigations. It was revealed that Mr Gibbons had completed an application form for Council Tax Benefit in July 2008 as owner of the property.
"Further investigations revealed that he still owned the property and the contents of his application form were false, as was the letter from the purported letting agent."
David Gibbons, 33, fraudulently applied for housing and council tax benefits by claiming he rented his home in The Limes, Abridge.
In fact he owned the house - something Epping Forest District Council officers discovered when they uncovered a previous benefit application form he completed in July 2008 in which he named himself as the owner.
At a hearing at Harlow Magistrates’ Court on Saturday March 6, Gibbons pleaded guilty to two counts of benefit fraud.
He then failed to attend a sentencing hearing on Tuesday April 6 so a warrant for his arrest was issued, but he returned to court of his own volition on Friday April 9.
Gibbons was sentenced to a 24-month Community Order with 280 hours unpaid work.
He was also ordered to pay the council’s prosecution costs of £648.
A council spokesman said: "He claimed to rent the property in The Limes, Abridge as an assured shorthold tenant.
"Giving details of his landlord, rent, the date he had moved in and claimed that he did not own his own home and that he had never owned the property.
"He also provided a letter from the purported letting agent confirming details of his tenancy.
"Following the receipt of these benefit claims forms from David Gibbons, officers at Epping Forest District Council carried out investigations. It was revealed that Mr Gibbons had completed an application form for Council Tax Benefit in July 2008 as owner of the property.
"Further investigations revealed that he still owned the property and the contents of his application form were false, as was the letter from the purported letting agent."
20 Apr 2010
No jail for £32k benefit theft
MUM-of-three Wendy Pukas has walked free from court after cheating the state out of almost £32,000 in benefits.
For nearly five years Pukas claimed income support and financial assistance from Gloucester City Council by lying that she was a single mum without a partner to support her family.
In fact her boyfriend, painter Geoffrey Esson, was living with her in Gloucester, and earned more than £60,000 during the period she was making false claims, city magistrates were told.
Pukas, 37, admitted nine charges of obtaining income support, housing benefit and council tax benefit totalling £31,613 by deception.
She was given a two-month jail term suspended 12 months and ordered to do 200 hours of unpaid work.
The magistrates also placed her on a four-month home curfew from 7pm to 7am on five days a week and 11pm to 7am on the other two days coupled with a supervision order.
Presiding magistrate Sue Major said the aggravating feature of Pukas' offending was that it went on for four years and 10 months and involved her making eight separate false statements.
Prosecutor Kim Neal said Pukas had claimed housing and council tax benefits from Gloucester city council since March 2002 and income support since January 2005.
Throughout that period she maintained she "did not have a partner and no one else was resident at the property".
In her initial claims she said her only income was from part-time work, child benefit and tax credits. In January 2005 when she also started to claim income support she said she had decided not go to back to work after having her second child.
Her three children are aged 14, five, and five months.
Miss Neal said that in 2007 the council received information that Pukas had a partner, Mr Esson, and that his main place of residence was her address.
Mr Esson visited the council offices and said he was not living there – but the council then made checks with his banks, finance companies, Vodafone and Orange which showed that he had given Pukas's address throughout.
His Toyota Starlet was registered to that address and his employers, Chambers Builders, also knew him to reside there, said Miss Neal.
Stephen John, defending, pointed out that Pukas' partner is now suffering from depression and unable to work or help much with looking after the house and children.
He urged the court not to pass an immediate jail term for the sake of her children.
For nearly five years Pukas claimed income support and financial assistance from Gloucester City Council by lying that she was a single mum without a partner to support her family.
In fact her boyfriend, painter Geoffrey Esson, was living with her in Gloucester, and earned more than £60,000 during the period she was making false claims, city magistrates were told.
Pukas, 37, admitted nine charges of obtaining income support, housing benefit and council tax benefit totalling £31,613 by deception.
She was given a two-month jail term suspended 12 months and ordered to do 200 hours of unpaid work.
The magistrates also placed her on a four-month home curfew from 7pm to 7am on five days a week and 11pm to 7am on the other two days coupled with a supervision order.
Presiding magistrate Sue Major said the aggravating feature of Pukas' offending was that it went on for four years and 10 months and involved her making eight separate false statements.
Prosecutor Kim Neal said Pukas had claimed housing and council tax benefits from Gloucester city council since March 2002 and income support since January 2005.
Throughout that period she maintained she "did not have a partner and no one else was resident at the property".
In her initial claims she said her only income was from part-time work, child benefit and tax credits. In January 2005 when she also started to claim income support she said she had decided not go to back to work after having her second child.
Her three children are aged 14, five, and five months.
Miss Neal said that in 2007 the council received information that Pukas had a partner, Mr Esson, and that his main place of residence was her address.
Mr Esson visited the council offices and said he was not living there – but the council then made checks with his banks, finance companies, Vodafone and Orange which showed that he had given Pukas's address throughout.
His Toyota Starlet was registered to that address and his employers, Chambers Builders, also knew him to reside there, said Miss Neal.
Stephen John, defending, pointed out that Pukas' partner is now suffering from depression and unable to work or help much with looking after the house and children.
He urged the court not to pass an immediate jail term for the sake of her children.
19 Apr 2010
Gypsy family in £100k benefit theft
A family of travellers paid for their children to be privately educated by claiming more than £100,000 in illegal handouts.
Mother-of-three Wendy Newland, 40, drove a top-of-the-range BMW and took holidays to North America and Europe after fleecing taxpayers with fraudulent claims.
Several other members of her family orchestrated a string of scams to obtain benefits.
Most were committed on their 15-acre mobile home and caravan site near Chertsey, Surrey.
Neighbours said Newland bought cars including a new £40,000 BMW X5.
She sent her ten-year-old daughter Rhianna to the £10,000-a-year Coworth-Flexlands prep school near Sunningdale, Berkshire.
And her sons Matthew, 19, and Michael, 16, attended the £7,000-a-year St John's Beaumont Prep School in Old Windsor when they were younger.
Newland is awaiting sentence after last week admitting four counts of benefit fraud involving £51,428.
But yesterday she showed no remorse and giggled as she told the Daily Mail: 'No one got hurt and we had a good time.
'Everyone wants to do the best for themselves and their children. I'm sure a lot of others would have done it if they would have thought of it. That's all I can say.'
Surrey Police raided the family's Green Acre Farm in 2002 when they found evidence of a cannabis factory, and 3,000 mobile phones worth £500,000 which had been stolen in an armed hijack.
No members of the family were implicated in those discoveries. But after a long-running investigation by the DWP around 60 police officers raided the farm in 2008.
At Guildford Crown Court, Newland admitted two counts of obtaining property by deception and two of obtaining money transfers by deception by not declaring she was living with roofer Matthew Newland or that she was receiving income.
Her former sister-in-law, Caroline Draper Smith, 40, admitted five counts of fraud worth almost £51,000. Newland's mother Lena Draper-Smith, 70, has admitted one count of fraud worth £154.31.
Nelson Draper-Smith, Newland's 46-year-old brother, who is wheelchair-bound, admitted false representation after lying to the council to receive housing benefits.
He was ordered to pay £65 after the court heard how he had not made any money from the attempted fraud.
The rest of the family who have pleaded guilty will be sentenced on May 7. Matthew Newland, who is now estranged from his wife, was also due in court but jumped bail. A warrant has been issued for his arrest.
Lee Draper Smith, Lena's husband, has been charged with £75,397.90 of benefit fraud. He is said to be unwell and not fit to plead.
Mother-of-three Wendy Newland, 40, drove a top-of-the-range BMW and took holidays to North America and Europe after fleecing taxpayers with fraudulent claims.
Several other members of her family orchestrated a string of scams to obtain benefits.
Most were committed on their 15-acre mobile home and caravan site near Chertsey, Surrey.
Neighbours said Newland bought cars including a new £40,000 BMW X5.
She sent her ten-year-old daughter Rhianna to the £10,000-a-year Coworth-Flexlands prep school near Sunningdale, Berkshire.
And her sons Matthew, 19, and Michael, 16, attended the £7,000-a-year St John's Beaumont Prep School in Old Windsor when they were younger.
Newland is awaiting sentence after last week admitting four counts of benefit fraud involving £51,428.
But yesterday she showed no remorse and giggled as she told the Daily Mail: 'No one got hurt and we had a good time.
'Everyone wants to do the best for themselves and their children. I'm sure a lot of others would have done it if they would have thought of it. That's all I can say.'
Surrey Police raided the family's Green Acre Farm in 2002 when they found evidence of a cannabis factory, and 3,000 mobile phones worth £500,000 which had been stolen in an armed hijack.
No members of the family were implicated in those discoveries. But after a long-running investigation by the DWP around 60 police officers raided the farm in 2008.
At Guildford Crown Court, Newland admitted two counts of obtaining property by deception and two of obtaining money transfers by deception by not declaring she was living with roofer Matthew Newland or that she was receiving income.
Her former sister-in-law, Caroline Draper Smith, 40, admitted five counts of fraud worth almost £51,000. Newland's mother Lena Draper-Smith, 70, has admitted one count of fraud worth £154.31.
Nelson Draper-Smith, Newland's 46-year-old brother, who is wheelchair-bound, admitted false representation after lying to the council to receive housing benefits.
He was ordered to pay £65 after the court heard how he had not made any money from the attempted fraud.
The rest of the family who have pleaded guilty will be sentenced on May 7. Matthew Newland, who is now estranged from his wife, was also due in court but jumped bail. A warrant has been issued for his arrest.
Lee Draper Smith, Lena's husband, has been charged with £75,397.90 of benefit fraud. He is said to be unwell and not fit to plead.
Harrow benefit cheat stole £18,000
A benefit cheat has admitted conning Harrow council out of nearly £18,000 in a two-and-a-half-year period.
Patricia Okoro, 34, claimed to be a single mother in need of housing benefit and council tax relief.
However, fraud investigators discovered she was actually living with her partner and father of her daughter, Bola Fashola, who had credit cards registered at her address.
Okoro admitted under questioning that Mr Fashola stayed with her five days a week, and conceded she should have told the authorities about her true living arrangements.
The mother-of-one pleaded guilty at Harrow Magistrates Court to three counts of benefit fraud, having falsely claimed £17,185.74 between July 2007 and January 2009, and also admitted receiving £687.23 too much in council tax relief.
She is due to be sentenced on April 21 after pre-sentencing reports have been completed.
Patricia Okoro, 34, claimed to be a single mother in need of housing benefit and council tax relief.
However, fraud investigators discovered she was actually living with her partner and father of her daughter, Bola Fashola, who had credit cards registered at her address.
Okoro admitted under questioning that Mr Fashola stayed with her five days a week, and conceded she should have told the authorities about her true living arrangements.
The mother-of-one pleaded guilty at Harrow Magistrates Court to three counts of benefit fraud, having falsely claimed £17,185.74 between July 2007 and January 2009, and also admitted receiving £687.23 too much in council tax relief.
She is due to be sentenced on April 21 after pre-sentencing reports have been completed.
17 Apr 2010
Wiltshire reports on benefit frauds
Wiltshire Council has announced a number of successful cautions and prosecutions for fraud during its first year.
The council has investigated 492 allegations of benefit fraud and has detected more than £570,000 in benefits claimed without the right entitlement. This included more than £431,000 of fraudulently obtained housing and council tax benefits.
The council has delivered 146 sanctions, including prosecutions, formal cautions and administrative penalties, which is an increase of 34 per cent on the previous year, and 47 prosecutions.
In all cases, the offenders have to repay the debt to the council as well as any financial penalty imposed by the court or the council.
The council has investigated 492 allegations of benefit fraud and has detected more than £570,000 in benefits claimed without the right entitlement. This included more than £431,000 of fraudulently obtained housing and council tax benefits.
The council has delivered 146 sanctions, including prosecutions, formal cautions and administrative penalties, which is an increase of 34 per cent on the previous year, and 47 prosecutions.
In all cases, the offenders have to repay the debt to the council as well as any financial penalty imposed by the court or the council.
16 Apr 2010
South Somerset DC reports successes
Benefit fraud busters at South Somerset District Council have clawed back £240,000 during the past year.
Between April 2009 and April 2010, the investigations team has successfully convicted 13 people and cautioned a further four benefit cheats.
A further nine fully investigated cases are pending court hearings in the coming months which could see tens of thousands more returned to council taxpayers.
The 2009-10 total is nearly £80,000 more than the amount intercepted the year before.
Between April 2009 and April 2010, the investigations team has successfully convicted 13 people and cautioned a further four benefit cheats.
A further nine fully investigated cases are pending court hearings in the coming months which could see tens of thousands more returned to council taxpayers.
The 2009-10 total is nearly £80,000 more than the amount intercepted the year before.
Cheat claimed benefit while living abroad
A benefits cheat from Sheffield has been jailed for two years after claiming £31,000 in handouts - while living in Yemen.
Nasser Abdo, from Wincobank, claimed £11,000 in housing benefit and over £20,000 from the DWP, claiming he was living in Sheffield when in fact he was abroad.
Nasser Abdo, from Wincobank, claimed £11,000 in housing benefit and over £20,000 from the DWP, claiming he was living in Sheffield when in fact he was abroad.
Nine arrested in Nottingham 'fraud' raids
Nine people have been arrested in Nottingham on suspicion of human trafficking, fraud and money laundering.
Six men and three women from the Czech Republic and Slovakia were arrested during raids at six locations in the city on Tuesday night and Wednesday.
They were all arrested on suspicion of tax credit fraud and money laundering offences.
One man was also arrested on suspicion of human trafficking.
The men and women are alleged to have illegally claimed more than £1m in tax credits.
Det Ch Supt Ian Waterfield said it was an ongoing investigation led by Nottinghamshire Police's Foreign National Crime Unit, in collaboration with HM Revenue & Customs, the UK Border Agency, and the Department for Work and Pensions.
He said: "The inquiry has taken many months and the investigation will continue."
Six men and three women from the Czech Republic and Slovakia were arrested during raids at six locations in the city on Tuesday night and Wednesday.
They were all arrested on suspicion of tax credit fraud and money laundering offences.
One man was also arrested on suspicion of human trafficking.
The men and women are alleged to have illegally claimed more than £1m in tax credits.
Det Ch Supt Ian Waterfield said it was an ongoing investigation led by Nottinghamshire Police's Foreign National Crime Unit, in collaboration with HM Revenue & Customs, the UK Border Agency, and the Department for Work and Pensions.
He said: "The inquiry has taken many months and the investigation will continue."
15 Apr 2010
Conditional discharge for £8k benefit fraud
A former soldier overclaimed £8,700 in benefits after he failed to declare his army pension.
Gareth Shane Kinnair, 39, who entered Flintshire Magistrates’ Court sporting a row of medals, admitted two charges of obtaining benefits by deception.
He had been paid income support on the basis of incapacity and that he had no other source of income.
Tony Newnes, prosecuting for the DWP, told magistrates Kinnair had failed to declare an army pension which increased each year and by March of last year was paying £257 a month.
Kinnair was a man of good character, the court was told.
He was given a three-year conditional discharge and ordered to pay £100 costs.
The court heard the DWP was claiming the overpayment back.
Gareth Shane Kinnair, 39, who entered Flintshire Magistrates’ Court sporting a row of medals, admitted two charges of obtaining benefits by deception.
He had been paid income support on the basis of incapacity and that he had no other source of income.
Tony Newnes, prosecuting for the DWP, told magistrates Kinnair had failed to declare an army pension which increased each year and by March of last year was paying £257 a month.
Kinnair was a man of good character, the court was told.
He was given a three-year conditional discharge and ordered to pay £100 costs.
The court heard the DWP was claiming the overpayment back.
- So he hasn't really been punished at all. Just give the money back and don't do it again.
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.
Everyone convicted of benefit fraud who doesn't go to prison should have to do unpaid work.
Benefit thieves should also 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.
More benefit frauds
Wendy Smart, from Gayton le Marsh, claimed benefit totalling £18,482 as a single person between August 2006 and May 2008, when she was actually living with her partner.
Appearing before Lincoln Crown Court, Smart pleaded guilty to the offence and was sentenced to a Community Order with a supervision requirement for 12 months and 150 hours of unpaid work.
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Adekunle Segun Rotimi got almost £24,000 claiming council tax and housing benefit from Thurrock Council.
He regularly submitted certificates of low earnings from an employer while failing to declare he was also in full-time employment with Ikea. The undeclared earnings from Ikea were paid into bank accounts he failed to declare.
Rotimi admitted 15 counts of benefit fraud and was sentenced to eight weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months, and 150 hours of unpaid work. He was also ordered to pay back the benefits in full and ordered to pay the full prosecution and investigation costs totalling more than £1,000.
Appearing before Lincoln Crown Court, Smart pleaded guilty to the offence and was sentenced to a Community Order with a supervision requirement for 12 months and 150 hours of unpaid work.
========
Adekunle Segun Rotimi got almost £24,000 claiming council tax and housing benefit from Thurrock Council.
He regularly submitted certificates of low earnings from an employer while failing to declare he was also in full-time employment with Ikea. The undeclared earnings from Ikea were paid into bank accounts he failed to declare.
Rotimi admitted 15 counts of benefit fraud and was sentenced to eight weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months, and 150 hours of unpaid work. He was also ordered to pay back the benefits in full and ordered to pay the full prosecution and investigation costs totalling more than £1,000.
14 Apr 2010
No confiscation order reported
A benefit cheat who failed to declare an inheritance of over £160,000 has been give a suspended prison sentence.
Tracey Collett, from Brighton, was sentenced to eight months imprisonment, suspended for two years, and ordered to do 150 hours unpaid work when she appeared at Lewes Crown Court on March 30.
Collett had admitted two charges of benefit fraud at a previous hearing and had fraudulently claimed £13,113 income support, £13,400 housing benefit, and £4,082 council tax benefit.
The court heard that Collett was a joint beneficiary of an inheritance that totalled more than £160,000 from the sale of her grandmother’s house.
The case was brought by the Department for Work and Pensions following a joint investigation between DWP and Brighton & Hove City Council.
Collett told investigators that she didn’t inform the benefits department of the inheritance because her boyfriend told her she didn’t have to.
A Department for Work and Pensions spokesperson said: “Benefit fraud is a crime and we have heard all the excuses before. This is an excellent example of joint working across government to stop benefit theft. ”
Tracey Collett, from Brighton, was sentenced to eight months imprisonment, suspended for two years, and ordered to do 150 hours unpaid work when she appeared at Lewes Crown Court on March 30.
Collett had admitted two charges of benefit fraud at a previous hearing and had fraudulently claimed £13,113 income support, £13,400 housing benefit, and £4,082 council tax benefit.
The court heard that Collett was a joint beneficiary of an inheritance that totalled more than £160,000 from the sale of her grandmother’s house.
The case was brought by the Department for Work and Pensions following a joint investigation between DWP and Brighton & Hove City Council.
Collett told investigators that she didn’t inform the benefits department of the inheritance because her boyfriend told her she didn’t have to.
A Department for Work and Pensions spokesperson said: “Benefit fraud is a crime and we have heard all the excuses before. This is an excellent example of joint working across government to stop benefit theft. ”
Benefit fraudster jailed
A serial benefit cheat has been found guilty of a string of fraud charges following a five day trial at Ipswich Crown Court.
Miss Tinuola Oladayo Oginni was originally arrested in Harrow in 2007, after allegations she was claiming unemployment, housing and Council Tax benefit, despite owning a business.
She was charged with four counts of housing benefit relating to the Three Rivers District Council.
Since then extensive enquiries were undertaken by fraud investigators from Three Rivers District Council, plus several other Local Authorities, as well as the Department for Work and Pensions Organised Crime Unit.
They discovered that Miss Oginni owned a number of properties both in the UK and abroad as well as a business providing her with extensive income, all of which had never been declared to the authorities.
Miss Oginni was re-arrested in Stevenage in October 2009 and, following interview, was charged with a number of further benefit fraud related offences, receiving a jail sentence of 21 months.
Miss Tinuola Oladayo Oginni was originally arrested in Harrow in 2007, after allegations she was claiming unemployment, housing and Council Tax benefit, despite owning a business.
She was charged with four counts of housing benefit relating to the Three Rivers District Council.
Since then extensive enquiries were undertaken by fraud investigators from Three Rivers District Council, plus several other Local Authorities, as well as the Department for Work and Pensions Organised Crime Unit.
They discovered that Miss Oginni owned a number of properties both in the UK and abroad as well as a business providing her with extensive income, all of which had never been declared to the authorities.
Miss Oginni was re-arrested in Stevenage in October 2009 and, following interview, was charged with a number of further benefit fraud related offences, receiving a jail sentence of 21 months.
Fraudster jailed after fleeing to Turkey
A benefit cheat who fled to Turkey after skipping bail in 2001 has been jailed for two-and-a-half months.
Margaret Gregory, who was living in Sutton when first arrested nine years ago, claimed more than £8,000 in housing and council tax benefits.
But she failed to tell the authorities she was working as a cleaner and that her husband was running a successful chauffeur and wedding car hire company.
Mrs Gregory originally pleaded not guilty to charges of benefit fraud but, instead of standing trial, fled to Turkey with her husband, where she lived for nine years.
Last month, Sutton Council discovered the fraudster had returned to the country due to her husband’s ill health and she was arrested.
Mrs Gregory, now living in Morden, was sentenced at Kingston Crown Court to 28 days’ imprisonment for breaching her original bail conditions and a further six weeks in jail for benefit offences.
Margaret Gregory, who was living in Sutton when first arrested nine years ago, claimed more than £8,000 in housing and council tax benefits.
But she failed to tell the authorities she was working as a cleaner and that her husband was running a successful chauffeur and wedding car hire company.
Mrs Gregory originally pleaded not guilty to charges of benefit fraud but, instead of standing trial, fled to Turkey with her husband, where she lived for nine years.
Last month, Sutton Council discovered the fraudster had returned to the country due to her husband’s ill health and she was arrested.
Mrs Gregory, now living in Morden, was sentenced at Kingston Crown Court to 28 days’ imprisonment for breaching her original bail conditions and a further six weeks in jail for benefit offences.
13 Apr 2010
Benefits cheat suspended from housing panel
The chairman of a housing association panel was suspended this week having been convicted for benefit fraud. A "full investigation" is being carried out by AmicusHorizon following concerns put to the Hastings Observer by a resident.
James Kemp, who headed up the East Sussex Area panel of AmicusHorizon, falsely claimed almost £6,400 in benefits but failed to declare his partner had two part-time incomes.
A resident of Mount Idol View, he was given a curfew order from 8pm to 7am every night for six weeks, reduced from eight weeks because of his guilty plea and repayments. He was also ordered to pay costs of £100.
An AmicusHorizon resident raised the matter of his still being chairman of the local area panel having been voted there by other residents to help in the running of their homes.
She said: "I am wondering why he is still in that position?
"Surely there is a problem if he now has this fraud conviction and as area panel chairman is dealing with budgets and money. I have asked AmicusHorizon but they won't speak about it. He is still there as chairman and that is disgraceful.
"I don't know if other residents have realised. I think it is selling us short that we have this elected body and autonomy, then what will that panel do if other residents commit housing benefit fraud, and the chairman has already done it himself? If it was something else I would understand it but this was about money, and that is not right."
When AmicusHorizon was approached about Mr Kemp's conviction the response came as a statement from Regional Director for Sussex Jane Porter to the effect that he had been suspended from the East Sussex Area Panel as well as his position as chair.
"We are carrying out a full investigation into the recent discovery about his fraudulent benefit claims. The suspension takes place as of April 6.
"We have informed the Tenant Services Authority and are following our Area Panel code of conduct.
"We reassure our residents that we are taking this matter seriously."
James Kemp, who headed up the East Sussex Area panel of AmicusHorizon, falsely claimed almost £6,400 in benefits but failed to declare his partner had two part-time incomes.
A resident of Mount Idol View, he was given a curfew order from 8pm to 7am every night for six weeks, reduced from eight weeks because of his guilty plea and repayments. He was also ordered to pay costs of £100.
An AmicusHorizon resident raised the matter of his still being chairman of the local area panel having been voted there by other residents to help in the running of their homes.
She said: "I am wondering why he is still in that position?
"Surely there is a problem if he now has this fraud conviction and as area panel chairman is dealing with budgets and money. I have asked AmicusHorizon but they won't speak about it. He is still there as chairman and that is disgraceful.
"I don't know if other residents have realised. I think it is selling us short that we have this elected body and autonomy, then what will that panel do if other residents commit housing benefit fraud, and the chairman has already done it himself? If it was something else I would understand it but this was about money, and that is not right."
When AmicusHorizon was approached about Mr Kemp's conviction the response came as a statement from Regional Director for Sussex Jane Porter to the effect that he had been suspended from the East Sussex Area Panel as well as his position as chair.
"We are carrying out a full investigation into the recent discovery about his fraudulent benefit claims. The suspension takes place as of April 6.
"We have informed the Tenant Services Authority and are following our Area Panel code of conduct.
"We reassure our residents that we are taking this matter seriously."
Data matching brings jail for benefit thief
A man who claimed £24,000 in benefits while receiving a private pension has been jailed for benefit fraud.
Stephen Hughes, from Chelmsford, was given a 120-day prison sentence after appearing in Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court on March 30.
Mr Hughes had pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to six counts of failing to declare he was in receipt of a private pension when claiming housing benefit and council tax benefit.
The fraud was discovered by Chelmsford Council while it was carrying out a routine National Fraud Initiative data matching exercise with other agencies.
Stephen Hughes, from Chelmsford, was given a 120-day prison sentence after appearing in Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court on March 30.
Mr Hughes had pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to six counts of failing to declare he was in receipt of a private pension when claiming housing benefit and council tax benefit.
The fraud was discovered by Chelmsford Council while it was carrying out a routine National Fraud Initiative data matching exercise with other agencies.
12 Apr 2010
Benefit thieves avoid jail
A mother of three was sentenced to community service after committing benefit fraud to the tune of £16,000.
Leasha Sefton, from Purfleet, admitted three charges of benefit fraud between March 2007 and June 2009.
She failed to notify the DWP or Thurrock Council that the father of her youngest child had been living with her. She also admitted making a false statement to the council in January 2008.
She was sentenced to Community Service for a year at Grays Magistrates Court. During the community service she must complete 80 hours unpaid work. She will also have to repay all of the benefit she received unlawfully.
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A woman who cheated more than £10,000 in benefits has been spared jail.
Martina Hannan, from Newton Heath, must complete 150 hours’ of unpaid work after swindling income support, housing and council tax benefit.
Hannan gained the benefits by failing to disclose to Manchester council and the DWP that she was working.
She pleaded guilty at Manchester Magistrates’ Court to obtaining income support from the Department for Work and Pensions, and housing and council tax benefit from Manchester council between January 2007 and December 2008. The fraud was uncovered by council staff. She must also pay £150 costs.
Richard Paver, city treasurer, said the council would use all methods available to recover the cash.
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A Hackney resident living on the City of London’s Windsor House estate has been found guilty of benefit fraud after claiming Housing Benefit and Income Support totalling £34,623 whilst working full time for Royal Mail.
Following a joint investigation between the City of London Corporation and the DWP, the defendant - Jayne Skitini - pleaded guilty at Westminster Magistrates Court to 8 offences of dishonestly making false representations to obtain benefit, and was sentenced to 8 weeks imprisonment for each offence to run concurrently, suspended for 12 months, and was also ordered to carry out 150 hours unpaid work.
Leasha Sefton, from Purfleet, admitted three charges of benefit fraud between March 2007 and June 2009.
She failed to notify the DWP or Thurrock Council that the father of her youngest child had been living with her. She also admitted making a false statement to the council in January 2008.
She was sentenced to Community Service for a year at Grays Magistrates Court. During the community service she must complete 80 hours unpaid work. She will also have to repay all of the benefit she received unlawfully.
========
A woman who cheated more than £10,000 in benefits has been spared jail.
Martina Hannan, from Newton Heath, must complete 150 hours’ of unpaid work after swindling income support, housing and council tax benefit.
Hannan gained the benefits by failing to disclose to Manchester council and the DWP that she was working.
She pleaded guilty at Manchester Magistrates’ Court to obtaining income support from the Department for Work and Pensions, and housing and council tax benefit from Manchester council between January 2007 and December 2008. The fraud was uncovered by council staff. She must also pay £150 costs.
Richard Paver, city treasurer, said the council would use all methods available to recover the cash.
========
A Hackney resident living on the City of London’s Windsor House estate has been found guilty of benefit fraud after claiming Housing Benefit and Income Support totalling £34,623 whilst working full time for Royal Mail.
Following a joint investigation between the City of London Corporation and the DWP, the defendant - Jayne Skitini - pleaded guilty at Westminster Magistrates Court to 8 offences of dishonestly making false representations to obtain benefit, and was sentenced to 8 weeks imprisonment for each offence to run concurrently, suspended for 12 months, and was also ordered to carry out 150 hours unpaid work.
The wheels of justice grind slowly
A successful businesswoman who conned Croydon Council out of thousands of pounds of housing benefit has avoided prison after pleading guilty to her crimes.
Deidre Hynes, 51, has been ordered to pay back more than £30,000 following what a judge described as one of the worst cases of fraud ever committed against the council.
Hynes, who owned two properties, a boat and substantial stocks and shares, pleaded guilty to 11 counts of making false representation at Croydon Crown Court on March 30.
The court heard Hynes also falsely claimed £6 each week from a housing budget set aside for people in desperate need of financial help.
Council officers began investigating the 51-year-old after discovering she was depositing thousands of pounds into an undeclared bank account while claiming housing benefit.
They discovered her offences dated back to 1996, when she completed housing benefit forms saying she was claiming income support.
She continued her claims following subsequent house moves in 1998 and 1999 despite running several businesses, including a trading company exporting tea to Japan.
Confiscation proceedings have also been put in place, with restraints on bank accounts and the property she owns in the UK.
Deidre Hynes, 51, has been ordered to pay back more than £30,000 following what a judge described as one of the worst cases of fraud ever committed against the council.
Hynes, who owned two properties, a boat and substantial stocks and shares, pleaded guilty to 11 counts of making false representation at Croydon Crown Court on March 30.
The court heard Hynes also falsely claimed £6 each week from a housing budget set aside for people in desperate need of financial help.
Council officers began investigating the 51-year-old after discovering she was depositing thousands of pounds into an undeclared bank account while claiming housing benefit.
They discovered her offences dated back to 1996, when she completed housing benefit forms saying she was claiming income support.
She continued her claims following subsequent house moves in 1998 and 1999 despite running several businesses, including a trading company exporting tea to Japan.
Confiscation proceedings have also been put in place, with restraints on bank accounts and the property she owns in the UK.
A hearing has been set for August 23.
- 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.
Benefit thieves 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.
10 Apr 2010
Benefit frauds in Reading
More than 300 people in Reading were caught dishonestly claiming the single person discount on their council tax according to a new report.
The report related to the six-month period from April to September, last year, when 1,465 single person discount council tax claims were investigated.
When they had information to suggest there were other adults in the property, they contacted them to check. If the council tax payer could not prove they were a single person or failed to respond, the discount, worth 25 per cent, was removed.
During the period the council netted an extra £97,427 as a result of its investigations.
The council investigated 593 potential housing benefit frauds and proved 139, which will retrieve £191,680. That figure is expected to rise to about £230,000 for the whole year and the highest individual fraud was £23,217.
The council has also been checking 178 applications for disabled badges in the names of deceased people.
Cllr Daisy Bension raised questions about disabled badge fraud and illegal subletting by tenants. She said: “I think the economic conditions at the moment make fraud more of a possibility.
“The economic conditions also make it more important for the council to deal with it.”
A 28-year-old unemployed mother-of-three from Caversham who falsely claimed tax credits has been jailed for a year.
Shabnam Hussain, of Talbot Close, admitted making false tax credits claims for four years when she appeared at Reading Crown Court on January 27. She reappeared at the same court for sentence on Monday last week.
According to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), she hijacked the identity of another person, claimed for children that did not exist and for childcare costs she did not incur.
Hussain completed an application for tax credits in 2003 for her and her three children. Over a four-year period she increased this by claiming for four fictitious children and childcare costs.
She also hijacked the identity of another person – Sophia Atlaf – and submitted tax credit claims in her name claiming for six non-existent children.
Investigation showed Hussain in fact had three children and she had received payments for claims submitted in Ms Atlaf’s name.
Between September 2003 and July 2007 she made more than 200 phonecalls to the Tax Credit Helpline.
As a result, Hussain received an overpayment of tax credits totalling £42,761. Confiscation proceedings are in place.
An HMRC spokeswoman said: “Hussain deliberately claimed a substantial sum of money to which she was not entitled. Fraudulent tax credit claims are not victimless crimes.
“The vast majority of tax credits claimants are honest and claim only what they are entitled to. But those who believe that they can beat the system, and gain an advantage over everyone else without consideration or second thought, should think again."
The report related to the six-month period from April to September, last year, when 1,465 single person discount council tax claims were investigated.
When they had information to suggest there were other adults in the property, they contacted them to check. If the council tax payer could not prove they were a single person or failed to respond, the discount, worth 25 per cent, was removed.
During the period the council netted an extra £97,427 as a result of its investigations.
The council investigated 593 potential housing benefit frauds and proved 139, which will retrieve £191,680. That figure is expected to rise to about £230,000 for the whole year and the highest individual fraud was £23,217.
The council has also been checking 178 applications for disabled badges in the names of deceased people.
Cllr Daisy Bension raised questions about disabled badge fraud and illegal subletting by tenants. She said: “I think the economic conditions at the moment make fraud more of a possibility.
“The economic conditions also make it more important for the council to deal with it.”
A 28-year-old unemployed mother-of-three from Caversham who falsely claimed tax credits has been jailed for a year.
Shabnam Hussain, of Talbot Close, admitted making false tax credits claims for four years when she appeared at Reading Crown Court on January 27. She reappeared at the same court for sentence on Monday last week.
According to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), she hijacked the identity of another person, claimed for children that did not exist and for childcare costs she did not incur.
Hussain completed an application for tax credits in 2003 for her and her three children. Over a four-year period she increased this by claiming for four fictitious children and childcare costs.
She also hijacked the identity of another person – Sophia Atlaf – and submitted tax credit claims in her name claiming for six non-existent children.
Investigation showed Hussain in fact had three children and she had received payments for claims submitted in Ms Atlaf’s name.
Between September 2003 and July 2007 she made more than 200 phonecalls to the Tax Credit Helpline.
As a result, Hussain received an overpayment of tax credits totalling £42,761. Confiscation proceedings are in place.
An HMRC spokeswoman said: “Hussain deliberately claimed a substantial sum of money to which she was not entitled. Fraudulent tax credit claims are not victimless crimes.
“The vast majority of tax credits claimants are honest and claim only what they are entitled to. But those who believe that they can beat the system, and gain an advantage over everyone else without consideration or second thought, should think again."
- They're probably right. There were several classic signs here, but the fraud lasted for nearly four years - and paid well.
Gordon Brown's system is complex, centralised, and therefore highly vulnerable.
9 Apr 2010
Jail for £50k benefits fraud
A man from Hendon has been jailed for 15 months after pleading guilty to defrauding Barnet Council out of £51,925 in housing and council tax benefits.
Joseph Saifi admitted making illegal claims between May 2002 and October 2007 and was sentenced to 15 months’ imprisonment.
The sentencing followed a long investigation by Barnet Council’s corporate anti-fraud team, which found Saifi had two children with the person he claimed was his landlady.
Further investigation revealed that Saifi was secretary of a company he declared he was an employee of and his landlady was the director of the business.
Investigators discovered previously undeclared bank accounts which revealed that large payments had been made from the landlady’s business account to Saifi.
Saifi was a signatory to the business accounts and had a joint working partnership with his landlady.
Saifi was interviewed under caution three times by corporate anti-fraud team investigators, each time providing misleading, limited, partial and inaccurate explanations which delayed the investigation.
He was charged with five counts of dishonestly making a false statement, one count of dishonestly obtaining money transfers by deception and one count of dishonestly obtaining exemption for liability to pay council tax.
Joseph Saifi admitted making illegal claims between May 2002 and October 2007 and was sentenced to 15 months’ imprisonment.
The sentencing followed a long investigation by Barnet Council’s corporate anti-fraud team, which found Saifi had two children with the person he claimed was his landlady.
Further investigation revealed that Saifi was secretary of a company he declared he was an employee of and his landlady was the director of the business.
Investigators discovered previously undeclared bank accounts which revealed that large payments had been made from the landlady’s business account to Saifi.
Saifi was a signatory to the business accounts and had a joint working partnership with his landlady.
Saifi was interviewed under caution three times by corporate anti-fraud team investigators, each time providing misleading, limited, partial and inaccurate explanations which delayed the investigation.
He was charged with five counts of dishonestly making a false statement, one count of dishonestly obtaining money transfers by deception and one count of dishonestly obtaining exemption for liability to pay council tax.
8 Apr 2010
Father and son conspired
A conman who used his father’s bank accounts to falsely claim nearly £7,000 in benefits has been given a 20 week jail sentence suspended for two years along with 120 hours community service.
Peter Plews, who has a previous conviction for benefit fraud, was also given a £2000 fine and ordered to pay £350 court costs after he failed to declare ‘substantial earnings’ from his work as a HGV driver, which he had arranged to be paid into his father William’s bank account.
70-year-old William Plews who also received the benefit payments into another of his bank accounts was given a two year conditional discharge and told to pay £350 court costs for his part in the fraud.
More
Peter Plews, who has a previous conviction for benefit fraud, was also given a £2000 fine and ordered to pay £350 court costs after he failed to declare ‘substantial earnings’ from his work as a HGV driver, which he had arranged to be paid into his father William’s bank account.
70-year-old William Plews who also received the benefit payments into another of his bank accounts was given a two year conditional discharge and told to pay £350 court costs for his part in the fraud.
More
Huntingdonshire benefit frauds
You're never too old.... On Monday 29 March 2010 at Huntingdon Crown Court, a local woman was sentenced for making false claims for benefit over a period of nearly 10 years.
The court heard that Patricia Phillips (74) of Miller Way, Brampton, had pleaded guilty in February to six counts of benefit fraud. She had made claims for housing benefit and council tax benefit between 2000 and 2009 totalling £45,671. On all the claims she declared that she received just a state pension and had savings of around £3,000.
Anand Beharrylal, prosecuting for Huntingdonshire District Council said that an investigation into her claims for benefit began in 2009 when information was received that she had been in receipt of an NHS pension for some time. Further inquiries revealed that she was receiving a pension from her late husband’s employer and this was paid into an undeclared account. It was discovered she had held capital in excess of the £16,000 limit allowed for benefit claimants.
Her claims were reassessed and she was found not to be entitled to any of the sums she had received between 2000 and 2009.
The court was told that Phillips had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity to the charges and had already repaid over £16,000 of the money wrongly claimed.
In ordering her to complete 120 hours of unpaid work in the community, His Honour Judge Richards told Phillips, that she was not only of good character, she had lived an industrious life to bring up her family, and that by her actions she had lost her good name. He said it must have been apparent to her that her claim was not correct. She had taken nearly £46,000 in benefit to which she was not entitled and she chose not to disclose her correct circumstances. He said the sums overpaid were equivalent to two years average income for someone in work, adding: “There are a number of losers in this case, including everyone in this court room”. He went onto say that benefit fraud is not a victimless crime as it is public money which has been defrauded from tax payers.
In addition to the order to carry out community work, Phillips was required to pay £28,093 compensation to the council, and a contribution of £3,000 to the council’s costs. The judge ordered the costs to be paid within seven days as he did not see why the public should bear the cost of bringing the matter to court.
Cases heard at Huntingdon magistrates court on Wednesday 24th March included:
Timothy Ballard (67) of Oak Tree Court, Godmanchester. Between October 2007 and September 2008 he was overpaid £4,683 in various benefits. Three charges of failing to declare work to Huntingdonshire District Council and the Department for Work and Pensions were brought against him. The case was proved in his absence and a warrant for his immediate arrest for him to be sentenced was issued.
Karen Anderson (47) of Pitfield Close, Fenstanton, pleaded guilty to a charge of failing to declare an increase in wages and new tax credits. Her offending was discovered when her claim was subject to a routine review. She was overpaid £2,578 in housing benefit and council tax benefit between April 2008 and September 2009. Anderson who was of previous good character and who has made arrangements to repay the debts was given a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £50 costs.
A warrant for the arrest of Katherine Eaton, (29) of Hayling Avenue, Little Paxton, was issued in order that she could be sentenced. Two charges against her of failing to declare work whilst she claimed benefit when living in Eynesbury, were heard on 10 March. The court heard overpayments of £4,200 in housing benefit and council tax benefit had occurred between June 2008 and August 2009.
A warrant for the arrest of Donnah Parsons (36) formerly of Kent Road, Huntingdon, and now living at Luddington Close, Great Paxton, was also issued. Her case, one charge of failing to declare that she was in paid work, was proved in her absence on 10 March. Ms Parsons was £2,768 in housing benefit and council tax benefit between March 2009 and August 2009.
The court heard that Patricia Phillips (74) of Miller Way, Brampton, had pleaded guilty in February to six counts of benefit fraud. She had made claims for housing benefit and council tax benefit between 2000 and 2009 totalling £45,671. On all the claims she declared that she received just a state pension and had savings of around £3,000.
Anand Beharrylal, prosecuting for Huntingdonshire District Council said that an investigation into her claims for benefit began in 2009 when information was received that she had been in receipt of an NHS pension for some time. Further inquiries revealed that she was receiving a pension from her late husband’s employer and this was paid into an undeclared account. It was discovered she had held capital in excess of the £16,000 limit allowed for benefit claimants.
Her claims were reassessed and she was found not to be entitled to any of the sums she had received between 2000 and 2009.
The court was told that Phillips had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity to the charges and had already repaid over £16,000 of the money wrongly claimed.
In ordering her to complete 120 hours of unpaid work in the community, His Honour Judge Richards told Phillips, that she was not only of good character, she had lived an industrious life to bring up her family, and that by her actions she had lost her good name. He said it must have been apparent to her that her claim was not correct. She had taken nearly £46,000 in benefit to which she was not entitled and she chose not to disclose her correct circumstances. He said the sums overpaid were equivalent to two years average income for someone in work, adding: “There are a number of losers in this case, including everyone in this court room”. He went onto say that benefit fraud is not a victimless crime as it is public money which has been defrauded from tax payers.
In addition to the order to carry out community work, Phillips was required to pay £28,093 compensation to the council, and a contribution of £3,000 to the council’s costs. The judge ordered the costs to be paid within seven days as he did not see why the public should bear the cost of bringing the matter to court.
Cases heard at Huntingdon magistrates court on Wednesday 24th March included:
Timothy Ballard (67) of Oak Tree Court, Godmanchester. Between October 2007 and September 2008 he was overpaid £4,683 in various benefits. Three charges of failing to declare work to Huntingdonshire District Council and the Department for Work and Pensions were brought against him. The case was proved in his absence and a warrant for his immediate arrest for him to be sentenced was issued.
Karen Anderson (47) of Pitfield Close, Fenstanton, pleaded guilty to a charge of failing to declare an increase in wages and new tax credits. Her offending was discovered when her claim was subject to a routine review. She was overpaid £2,578 in housing benefit and council tax benefit between April 2008 and September 2009. Anderson who was of previous good character and who has made arrangements to repay the debts was given a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £50 costs.
A warrant for the arrest of Katherine Eaton, (29) of Hayling Avenue, Little Paxton, was issued in order that she could be sentenced. Two charges against her of failing to declare work whilst she claimed benefit when living in Eynesbury, were heard on 10 March. The court heard overpayments of £4,200 in housing benefit and council tax benefit had occurred between June 2008 and August 2009.
A warrant for the arrest of Donnah Parsons (36) formerly of Kent Road, Huntingdon, and now living at Luddington Close, Great Paxton, was also issued. Her case, one charge of failing to declare that she was in paid work, was proved in her absence on 10 March. Ms Parsons was £2,768 in housing benefit and council tax benefit between March 2009 and August 2009.
7 Apr 2010
Incapacity benefit in East Lancs
A major plan is being drawn up to reduce East Lancashire's massive £179million bill for incapacity benefit, reports the Lancashire Telegraph.
The staggering annual cost, revealed for the first time, is the equivalent of each worker in the area paying around £900 in taxes.
Health chiefs said a new drive was vital to get more of the 30,300 incapacity claimants back into work.
But MPs warned the task may prove difficult due to the state of the economy. They also stressed that the underlying issues behind the area's deprivation needed to be tackled.
Commissioned by the Department of Health, the report found that the average individual cost saving per claimant was £5,900.
If all of these were in work, they would generate £9,000 each for the Government, contributing a total of £272,700,000 extra in total.
Statistics show 23 per cent of Blackburn with Darwen's working age population are claiming out-of-work benefits.
The figure is slightly lower for Burnley and 21 per cent for Hyndburn – all of which are above the North West average of 19 per cent and national average of 16 per cent.
Dominic Harrison, director of public health for the new NHS Blackburn with Darwen Teaching Care Trust Plus, wants to deliver a new Lancashire-wide integrated strategy on health, well-being and worklessness.
He has been discussing plans with Lancashire County Council and will be chairing a meeting with council members and representatives from the health sector in two weeks time. He will produce a full report on health inequalities in May - but this is not the problem.
Mr Harrison's new trust brings together council and health services in a bid to provide a wider approach to tackling issues.
And helping to reduce the number of people claiming incapacity benefit is one of his key aims.
He said: “One of the biggest drains on the north west economy on the whole and certainly East Lancashire is the percentage of the population not able to be economically productive because they are sick or on benefits.
“We are looking to see how the health sector can make a better contribution to improving both health and well-being at work, and then assist more closely the Department for Work and Pensions schemes to enable people to return to work.
“A lot of this is centred around chronic disease management. The two biggest causes for worklessness by far are mental health problems and musculoskeletal injuries, such as bad backs “We need to stop the number of people going off sick and never returning to work and then get these two biggest causes treated more effectively.”
Janet Anderson, MP for Darwen and Rossendale, said she welcomed any scheme which helped get people back into work.
She said: "It’s an awful lot of money and a worrying amount of people in East Lancashire who are not in work.
"It has to be meaningful employment.
“I have already raised with Employment Minister Jim Knight some of the complaints I have had from members of my constituency about job centres and the service being provided, which they tell me is quite poor. He said there did seem to be a particular problem in the North West.”
Nigel Evans, MP for the Ribble Valley, said different agencies needed to work together to reduce the 'huge figure'.
He said: "What I do not want to see is people who are genuinely ill badgered and told they can work when they cannot. They need our support.”
Coun Gordon Birtwistle, Burnley Council leader, stressed that East Lancashire suffered from bad health due to deprivation.
He said: "Depression is an illness but unfortunately mental health has been left behind in health provision. It is under-funded.
“If people genuinely need the benefits then so be it, but if they don’t need it then they should not be getting it. It’s ok saying they should be put back into work but what if there is no work? It’s a devil and the deep blue sea situation.”
Coun Roy Davies, chairman of Blackburn with Darwen’s health scrutiny committee, agreed 'something needed to be done'.
He said: “We talk about getting people back to work, but we should have been looking at these figures during the good times three or four years ago.
“Even a very fit person would find it difficult to find a job in today’s commercial aspect.”
The staggering annual cost, revealed for the first time, is the equivalent of each worker in the area paying around £900 in taxes.
Health chiefs said a new drive was vital to get more of the 30,300 incapacity claimants back into work.
But MPs warned the task may prove difficult due to the state of the economy. They also stressed that the underlying issues behind the area's deprivation needed to be tackled.
Commissioned by the Department of Health, the report found that the average individual cost saving per claimant was £5,900.
If all of these were in work, they would generate £9,000 each for the Government, contributing a total of £272,700,000 extra in total.
Statistics show 23 per cent of Blackburn with Darwen's working age population are claiming out-of-work benefits.
The figure is slightly lower for Burnley and 21 per cent for Hyndburn – all of which are above the North West average of 19 per cent and national average of 16 per cent.
Dominic Harrison, director of public health for the new NHS Blackburn with Darwen Teaching Care Trust Plus, wants to deliver a new Lancashire-wide integrated strategy on health, well-being and worklessness.
He has been discussing plans with Lancashire County Council and will be chairing a meeting with council members and representatives from the health sector in two weeks time. He will produce a full report on health inequalities in May - but this is not the problem.
Mr Harrison's new trust brings together council and health services in a bid to provide a wider approach to tackling issues.
And helping to reduce the number of people claiming incapacity benefit is one of his key aims.
He said: “One of the biggest drains on the north west economy on the whole and certainly East Lancashire is the percentage of the population not able to be economically productive because they are sick or on benefits.
“We are looking to see how the health sector can make a better contribution to improving both health and well-being at work, and then assist more closely the Department for Work and Pensions schemes to enable people to return to work.
“A lot of this is centred around chronic disease management. The two biggest causes for worklessness by far are mental health problems and musculoskeletal injuries, such as bad backs “We need to stop the number of people going off sick and never returning to work and then get these two biggest causes treated more effectively.”
Janet Anderson, MP for Darwen and Rossendale, said she welcomed any scheme which helped get people back into work.
She said: "It’s an awful lot of money and a worrying amount of people in East Lancashire who are not in work.
"It has to be meaningful employment.
“I have already raised with Employment Minister Jim Knight some of the complaints I have had from members of my constituency about job centres and the service being provided, which they tell me is quite poor. He said there did seem to be a particular problem in the North West.”
Nigel Evans, MP for the Ribble Valley, said different agencies needed to work together to reduce the 'huge figure'.
He said: "What I do not want to see is people who are genuinely ill badgered and told they can work when they cannot. They need our support.”
Coun Gordon Birtwistle, Burnley Council leader, stressed that East Lancashire suffered from bad health due to deprivation.
He said: "Depression is an illness but unfortunately mental health has been left behind in health provision. It is under-funded.
“If people genuinely need the benefits then so be it, but if they don’t need it then they should not be getting it. It’s ok saying they should be put back into work but what if there is no work? It’s a devil and the deep blue sea situation.”
Coun Roy Davies, chairman of Blackburn with Darwen’s health scrutiny committee, agreed 'something needed to be done'.
He said: “We talk about getting people back to work, but we should have been looking at these figures during the good times three or four years ago.
“Even a very fit person would find it difficult to find a job in today’s commercial aspect.”
6 Apr 2010
Coventry man jailed for £20k benefit fraud
Yes, it can be done. Ishtiaq Ashiq of Friars Road, Coventry city centre, claimed more than £20,000 in housing and council tax benefit for a property he owned in Grosvenor Road, also in the city centre.
He had told the local authorities he was unemployed and living at that address in order to claim the benefits but he was actually the director of several companies.
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He had told the local authorities he was unemployed and living at that address in order to claim the benefits but he was actually the director of several companies.
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Data matching catches benefit thief - light sentence
Nyima Manneh, from Ardwick, fraudulently obtained Housing and Council Tax Benefit and Income Support totalling £8,262 after she failed to declare income from her employment.
She pleaded guilty to fraudulently obtaining £3,094 Housing and Council Tax Benefit from Manchester City Council between April 2004 and August 2005, and Income Support amounting to £5,168 for the same period.
Manneh was sentenced to a 17-week curfew order, between the hours of 9pm and 7am, and was ordered to pay costs of £150.
The offences came to light from a data matching exercise designed to detect fraudulent and incorrect payments of benefit.
Councillor Bernard Priest, executive member for finance and human resources for Manchester City Council, said: "This woman has been stealing from the people of Manchester and I am pleased that her deception has been uncovered.The message is clear to these people: we will find out and we will prosecute."
She pleaded guilty to fraudulently obtaining £3,094 Housing and Council Tax Benefit from Manchester City Council between April 2004 and August 2005, and Income Support amounting to £5,168 for the same period.
Manneh was sentenced to a 17-week curfew order, between the hours of 9pm and 7am, and was ordered to pay costs of £150.
The offences came to light from a data matching exercise designed to detect fraudulent and incorrect payments of benefit.
Councillor Bernard Priest, executive member for finance and human resources for Manchester City Council, said: "This woman has been stealing from the people of Manchester and I am pleased that her deception has been uncovered.The message is clear to these people: we will find out and we will prosecute."
- But they won't necessarily get a meaningful punishment.
No prison for £55k benefit fraud
AN Ebbw Vale woman, who falsely claimed almost £55,000 in benefits, has been given a suspended sentence.
Natalie Mitchell appeared in Cardiff Crown Court for sentencing having previously pleaded guilty to two counts of making false representations to obtain income support, two of making false representations to obtain housing benefit and council tax benefit and two charges of fraud.
She also admitted two counts of obtaining money transfers by deception for housing benefits and one of obtaining money transfers by deception for income support.
The court heard the offences took place between November 22, 2001 and September 20, 2007, when the defendant failed to notify the DWP and Blaenau Gwent Council she was living with her partner, Dean Jones.
Prosecutor Carl Harrison said Mitchell had asked for a further 66 similar offences to be taken into consideration. He said Mitchell was overpaid £34,166 in income support and £19,983 in housing benefit, totalling £54,149 in falsely claimed benefits.
The court heard Mitchell initially submitted a legitimate claim for income support, but then moved in with her partner and continued to claim both housing benefit and income support, stating on claim forms that Mr Jones was her landlord.
Mr Harrison said Mitchell was paying back the overpayment at a rate of £200 a month and a total of £49,983 was outstanding.
Representing Mitchell, Harry Baker said Mitchell was motivated and encouraged by her partner to continue claiming benefits after she moved. He said Mr Jones was also investigated, but a decision was made not to prosecute him.
Judge Keith Thomas gave Mitchell a 32-week sentence, suspended for 12 months. She was also ordered to carry out 180 hours unpaid work.
Natalie Mitchell appeared in Cardiff Crown Court for sentencing having previously pleaded guilty to two counts of making false representations to obtain income support, two of making false representations to obtain housing benefit and council tax benefit and two charges of fraud.
She also admitted two counts of obtaining money transfers by deception for housing benefits and one of obtaining money transfers by deception for income support.
The court heard the offences took place between November 22, 2001 and September 20, 2007, when the defendant failed to notify the DWP and Blaenau Gwent Council she was living with her partner, Dean Jones.
Prosecutor Carl Harrison said Mitchell had asked for a further 66 similar offences to be taken into consideration. He said Mitchell was overpaid £34,166 in income support and £19,983 in housing benefit, totalling £54,149 in falsely claimed benefits.
The court heard Mitchell initially submitted a legitimate claim for income support, but then moved in with her partner and continued to claim both housing benefit and income support, stating on claim forms that Mr Jones was her landlord.
Mr Harrison said Mitchell was paying back the overpayment at a rate of £200 a month and a total of £49,983 was outstanding.
Representing Mitchell, Harry Baker said Mitchell was motivated and encouraged by her partner to continue claiming benefits after she moved. He said Mr Jones was also investigated, but a decision was made not to prosecute him.
Judge Keith Thomas gave Mitchell a 32-week sentence, suspended for 12 months. She was also ordered to carry out 180 hours unpaid work.
5 Apr 2010
Sun exposes 'love rat' as benefit thief
How much of this scum is lying at the bottom of the pond and how much is it costing us?
Britain's biggest love rat can today be exposed by The Sun as a brazen benefits cheat.
Keith MacDonald - who has seven kids by seven women, with an eighth on the way - is costing the taxpayer £1million in benefits for his brood.
He also claims incapacity benefit for a bad back and chest. But that did not stop him taking on a full-time job in a computer games shop two weeks ago.
And because he has not told the Jobcentre, he STILL gets handouts of £67.75 a week.
We caught the dad - who's cheated on at least one of his conquests - working at The Games Emporium shop in Houghton-le-Spring, near Sunderland.
Angry
MacDonald, 24, told a pal: "I told the Jobcentre I'm only doing 16 hours. They can't touch me.
"This makes me some money that the mums can't get their hands on."
Because he is on benefits MacDonald pays just £1.11 a month to each mum for child maintenance, which comes straight from his handout.
Each of the children is eligible for £18 a week child support plus £46 child tax credit until they are 18.
The mums also get £50 income support if they don't work. Most get housing benefit and their council tax paid.
Over 18 years, the whole lot will cost the taxpayer well over £1million.
Stacey Barker, who has a two-year-old daughter Emily with MacDonald, said: "It makes me really angry."
MacDonald was just 15 when he fathered his first child and went on to make another seven girls pregnant before dumping them.
And his eighth child will be born later this month after he bedded Clare Bryant, 21.
He refused to comment when quizzed about his new job. Our evidence is available to the Department of Work and Pensions.
Benefit cheat defended badly
Ambush predator picks up this report from the Southend Echo. Read and enjoy - don't miss the robust comments on the article.
No jail for £32k benefit thief
Another Redditch woman has been sentenced for benefit fraud offences. Because of Jacqui Smith, frauds at Redditch seem to stick in the mind. Odd, that.
Rosemary Crump was sentenced to a 12-month prison sentence suspended for two years and ordered to carry out 200 hours’ unpaid work with a two-year supervision requirement at Hereford Crown Court.
Mrs Crump initially appeared before Worcester Crown Court on February 22. She pleaded guilty there to five charges of dishonestly claiming housing benefit, council tax benefit, income support and carer’s allowance from Redditch Council and the DWP totalling £32,048 between February 2006 and November 2008 by failing to declare she had been working as a care assistant and had a partner living with her.
That hearing was adjourned for a full pre-sentence report to be prepared.
The DWP began to investigate after a data match identified that Mrs Crump had started work as a care assistant in May 2007. Redditch Council then identified that she had been living with her partner since February 2006.
Judge Pearce-Higgins said he had considered that although she was entitled to the benefits when she first claimed, she had become guilty of dishonest financial irresponsibility. He also said that he had suspended the sentence as going to prison would result in her losing her job and stop her doing valuable work in the community.
A Redditch Council spokesman said: “Although a financial penalty was not considered appropriate in this case, the overpayments have to be repaid. Mrs Crump also has to carry out the equivalent of five weeks’ full-time unpaid work.”
Rosemary Crump was sentenced to a 12-month prison sentence suspended for two years and ordered to carry out 200 hours’ unpaid work with a two-year supervision requirement at Hereford Crown Court.
Mrs Crump initially appeared before Worcester Crown Court on February 22. She pleaded guilty there to five charges of dishonestly claiming housing benefit, council tax benefit, income support and carer’s allowance from Redditch Council and the DWP totalling £32,048 between February 2006 and November 2008 by failing to declare she had been working as a care assistant and had a partner living with her.
That hearing was adjourned for a full pre-sentence report to be prepared.
The DWP began to investigate after a data match identified that Mrs Crump had started work as a care assistant in May 2007. Redditch Council then identified that she had been living with her partner since February 2006.
Judge Pearce-Higgins said he had considered that although she was entitled to the benefits when she first claimed, she had become guilty of dishonest financial irresponsibility. He also said that he had suspended the sentence as going to prison would result in her losing her job and stop her doing valuable work in the community.
A Redditch Council spokesman said: “Although a financial penalty was not considered appropriate in this case, the overpayments have to be repaid. Mrs Crump also has to carry out the equivalent of five weeks’ full-time unpaid work.”
2 Apr 2010
Medway reports on single person discount
Medway Council has reported on its council tax single person discount (SPD).
Where there are no other residents aged 18 or over (excluding disregarded categories) living at an address, householders can apply for a single person’s discount (25 per cent of their council tax liability). Nationally, this costs councils around £2 billion a year, says the council (Medway Council currently has nearly 31,000 single person discounts equating to a total of £8,880,000 for 2009/10), but by matching council tax records with the electoral register, the NFI can spot where this discount may have been awarded inappropriately.
Medway Council received two reports from the NFI exercise. These were:-
£30,866 has already been recovered and council tax recovery action has been instigated for the outstanding amounts. The increased collection of council tax will also benefit the current and future financial years. 5 cases are still under review.
The second report - on Council Tax Rising 18s – listed 178 cases to investigate and of these:-
122 cases were already known to the Council and appropriate action had been taken,
54 cases had no issues arising, and
in 2 cases single person discount was invalid and their council tax accounts have been redebited with any over claimed discount. The total reclaimed was £553 for 2008/9. This has been recovered in full.
The increased collection of council tax will also benefit the current and future financial years.
The council adds that prosecution action will now be considered for the 125 cases where the single person discount was invalid.
The council's conclusion is that "this has been a very labour intensive exercise but the results have been worthwhile".
The 125 cases identified where single person discount is invalid represent 8% of the cases listed by the NFI exercise. The NFI pilot exercise for this data match produced up to 30% success hit rate in other local authorities. A reason why Medway Council’s figures are lower than those obtained in the NFI pilot may be due to the more proactive stance taken on SPD reviews by Medway Council, they suggest.
Where there are no other residents aged 18 or over (excluding disregarded categories) living at an address, householders can apply for a single person’s discount (25 per cent of their council tax liability). Nationally, this costs councils around £2 billion a year, says the council (Medway Council currently has nearly 31,000 single person discounts equating to a total of £8,880,000 for 2009/10), but by matching council tax records with the electoral register, the NFI can spot where this discount may have been awarded inappropriately.
Medway Council received two reports from the NFI exercise. These were:-
- Council Tax to electoral register (This identifies addresses where the householder is claiming a council tax single person discount on the basis that they live alone yet the electoral register suggests that there is more than one person in the household aged 18 or over)
- Council Tax Rising 18s (This match identifies addresses where the householder is claiming a council tax single person discount on the basis that they are the only occupant over 18 years of age yet the electoral register suggests that there is somebody else in the household who is already, or is approaching, 18 years of age. This may have already made, or may be about to make, the SPD invalid.
£30,866 has already been recovered and council tax recovery action has been instigated for the outstanding amounts. The increased collection of council tax will also benefit the current and future financial years. 5 cases are still under review.
The second report - on Council Tax Rising 18s – listed 178 cases to investigate and of these:-
122 cases were already known to the Council and appropriate action had been taken,
54 cases had no issues arising, and
in 2 cases single person discount was invalid and their council tax accounts have been redebited with any over claimed discount. The total reclaimed was £553 for 2008/9. This has been recovered in full.
The increased collection of council tax will also benefit the current and future financial years.
The council adds that prosecution action will now be considered for the 125 cases where the single person discount was invalid.
The council's conclusion is that "this has been a very labour intensive exercise but the results have been worthwhile".
The 125 cases identified where single person discount is invalid represent 8% of the cases listed by the NFI exercise. The NFI pilot exercise for this data match produced up to 30% success hit rate in other local authorities. A reason why Medway Council’s figures are lower than those obtained in the NFI pilot may be due to the more proactive stance taken on SPD reviews by Medway Council, they suggest.
1 Apr 2010
Big benefit frauds in Enfield
A woman who advised on how to claim benefits and clear debt has been found guilty of an £18,500 benefit fraud.
Carol Thomas, a former advisor at Edmonton Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) and two councils, claimed £17,021 in income support and £1,583 in housing benefit between 2003 and 2008 on the grounds she was unemployed and single.
In fact, she was a self-employed businesswoman who owned five properties, financed after she had set up her own company with her husband. She also had savings of £54,000.
Ms Thomas worked at Edmonton CAB from November 2001 to March 2004, at Brent Council as a welfare benefit officer for a few months in 2004, and at Barking and Dagenham Council as a welfare benefit officer from November 2004 to June 2006.
She was given a six month suspended sentence for obtaining property by deception, 150 hours community service, while a confiscation hearing will be opened to claim back the money.
Also sentenced at Wood Green Crown Court last Friday were former bank worker Rhonda Reid, from Edmonton, and ex-husband Roy Wilson, from Leytonstone. The pair had falsely claimed £46,000 between them in benefits. After an investigation was launched by Enfield Council, a joint £1.5m mortgage scam was also uncovered.
Ms Reid, who had left her job at Abbey bank, pleaded guilty to obtaining worth £21,000 in council tax benefit and income support, but was in fact being paid rental income from a portfolio of properties.
While at the bank Reid had set up a number of bank accounts in false identities, which she then used to open bank accounts with different banks, take out credit cards, loans and mortgages to buy properties.
Wilson claimed £25,000 in housing benefit, council tax benefit and income support.
Both were jailed for 30 months for conspiracy to defraud.
The cases were brought jointly by Enfield Council, Enfield Police and the Department for Work and Pensions.
James Rolfe, Enfield Council's director of finance said: “Thanks to the diligence and tenacity of the investigators, these fraudsters are now behind bars. We take fraud seriously in Enfield and we strike hard against these shameless cheats who think they can rip off hardworking taxpayers and shun the rules rest of decent society abides by.”
Carol Thomas, a former advisor at Edmonton Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) and two councils, claimed £17,021 in income support and £1,583 in housing benefit between 2003 and 2008 on the grounds she was unemployed and single.
In fact, she was a self-employed businesswoman who owned five properties, financed after she had set up her own company with her husband. She also had savings of £54,000.
Ms Thomas worked at Edmonton CAB from November 2001 to March 2004, at Brent Council as a welfare benefit officer for a few months in 2004, and at Barking and Dagenham Council as a welfare benefit officer from November 2004 to June 2006.
She was given a six month suspended sentence for obtaining property by deception, 150 hours community service, while a confiscation hearing will be opened to claim back the money.
Also sentenced at Wood Green Crown Court last Friday were former bank worker Rhonda Reid, from Edmonton, and ex-husband Roy Wilson, from Leytonstone. The pair had falsely claimed £46,000 between them in benefits. After an investigation was launched by Enfield Council, a joint £1.5m mortgage scam was also uncovered.
Ms Reid, who had left her job at Abbey bank, pleaded guilty to obtaining worth £21,000 in council tax benefit and income support, but was in fact being paid rental income from a portfolio of properties.
While at the bank Reid had set up a number of bank accounts in false identities, which she then used to open bank accounts with different banks, take out credit cards, loans and mortgages to buy properties.
Wilson claimed £25,000 in housing benefit, council tax benefit and income support.
Both were jailed for 30 months for conspiracy to defraud.
The cases were brought jointly by Enfield Council, Enfield Police and the Department for Work and Pensions.
James Rolfe, Enfield Council's director of finance said: “Thanks to the diligence and tenacity of the investigators, these fraudsters are now behind bars. We take fraud seriously in Enfield and we strike hard against these shameless cheats who think they can rip off hardworking taxpayers and shun the rules rest of decent society abides by.”
Light sentence for £32k benefits cheat
A mother of three who fleeced Hillingdon Council out of more than £32,000 in housing benefit has been spared a prison sentence.
Zeba Shireen Ali, from Northwood, falsely claimed she was the tenant instead of the owner of her home address.
Ali failed to inform the council that she had purchased the property on March 10, 2006, and subsequently received £32,440 in benefits which she was not entitled to, between March 6, 2006 and November 16, 2008.
Ali, who is currently training to become a teacher, had had many opportunities to tell the benefits office about the change in her circumstances but deliberately chose not to do so over a two-year period.
"Mrs Ali's actions were planned and motivated by greed. She has made no effort to make an arrangement to repay the sums owed to the council," the prosecution said.
The defence said: "Mrs Ali is an intelligent woman of previous good character who has acted foolishly and made a series of poor decisions.
"Her motivation was, in fact, a very real fear that she would lose the property she was living in with her three children, aged 12, 16 and 19, and that they would become homeless.
"She is currently receiving benefits and is living very frugally. She is fully aware of the consequences of her actions."
Ali admitted to knowingly failing to notify the benefits office about purchasing and owning a property, which would affect her entitlement to benefit.
She was handed a two-month jail term, suspended for 12 months, and ordered to pay costs of £5,332, as well as being given 200 hours community service.
Sentencing, presiding magistrate Richard Bristow just huffed and puffed, saying: "This was a serious offence which took place over a significant period of time in which you had ample opportunity to put things right.
"Public funds have suffered a loss of more than £32,000 – and despite your previous good character, nothing other than a prison sentence can be appropriate.
"If you reoffend, you will find yourself being committed to custody."
Zeba Shireen Ali, from Northwood, falsely claimed she was the tenant instead of the owner of her home address.
Ali failed to inform the council that she had purchased the property on March 10, 2006, and subsequently received £32,440 in benefits which she was not entitled to, between March 6, 2006 and November 16, 2008.
Ali, who is currently training to become a teacher, had had many opportunities to tell the benefits office about the change in her circumstances but deliberately chose not to do so over a two-year period.
"Mrs Ali's actions were planned and motivated by greed. She has made no effort to make an arrangement to repay the sums owed to the council," the prosecution said.
The defence said: "Mrs Ali is an intelligent woman of previous good character who has acted foolishly and made a series of poor decisions.
"Her motivation was, in fact, a very real fear that she would lose the property she was living in with her three children, aged 12, 16 and 19, and that they would become homeless.
"She is currently receiving benefits and is living very frugally. She is fully aware of the consequences of her actions."
Ali admitted to knowingly failing to notify the benefits office about purchasing and owning a property, which would affect her entitlement to benefit.
She was handed a two-month jail term, suspended for 12 months, and ordered to pay costs of £5,332, as well as being given 200 hours community service.
Sentencing, presiding magistrate Richard Bristow just huffed and puffed, saying: "This was a serious offence which took place over a significant period of time in which you had ample opportunity to put things right.
"Public funds have suffered a loss of more than £32,000 – and despite your previous good character, nothing other than a prison sentence can be appropriate.
"If you reoffend, you will find yourself being committed to custody."
Hillingdon Council will attempt to recover the overpaid benefit in separate proceedings on September 3.
- That's ridiculous. It should all be dealt with at once. The complication and delay are costing us more money.
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