Benefit thieves roundup

A mother who claimed £12,000 in housing and council tax benefits over four years while concealing £80,000 in a joint bank account has been ordered to pay the money back and do 140 hours of community service.

In another case, Rebecca Feeney from Aylesbury was overpaid £18,268 in income support and £3,723 in council tax benefit. She was taken to court after an anonymous tip that she had over £100,000 of assets. On investigation, it was found that she had received an inheritance from her grandmother that she did not declare when claiming income support and council tax benefit. She was sentenced to eight weeks imprisonment, suspended for 12 months, and 200 hours unpaid work.

And a worker at a Leyland taxi firm has been fined after admitting cheating the system out of more than £3,000 during a 10-month benefit fraud. Catherine Wilding, 40, admitted two charges of claiming housing benefit and council tax benefit whilst working as a receptionist for Leyland Taxis between November 2007 and September 2008. She was fined £440 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £15 plus costs of £200. She will also have to repay the money she fraudulently claimed.

• 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.