Yvonne Martin, from New Cross, began claiming Income Support, Housing Benefit and Council Tax benefits in 2007, claiming that she had only £200 in her savings account.
A tip-off from a member of the public said that Miss Martin, 46, had undeclared money in several different accounts and that she had also received a compensation payout of £100,000 in 2006. So she started these claims after she got her compensation payment.
Investigators from Lewisham Council and the DWP began to look at Miss Martin’s finances and discovered that she had £98,000 in undeclared capital in her name in several different accounts. Under interview Miss Martin told investigators that she was holding the cash for other people (as you do) and it was not hers – but she was not able to provide any evidence to support her claims.
Ms Martin received £4,972 in Income Support from the DWP, and £38,000 in housing and council tax benefits from Lewisham Council.
On 15 December Miss Martin pleaded guilty to three counts of obtaining benefits fraudulently. On 7 February at Woolwich Crown Court Miss Martin was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment for each offence, suspended for two years, and ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work. In sentencing, the judge took into account that Miss Martin had children, but warned her that if she breached any of the conditions of her sentence she would go to prison.
As well as the sentence, Miss Martin will have to pay back all the money that she claimed fraudulently. So why have we not got our money back yet?
- 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.
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