Light sentences for single person frauds

Two people have been convicted in separate cases after fraudulently claiming more than £42,000 in benefits by failing to declare a change in their circumstances.

Christopher Brown, from Somercotes, claimed more than £24,000 in council tax benefit, housing benefit and income support over a period of two years and nine months. Mr Brown falsely claimed the benefits for nearly three years until an anonymous tip off to Amber Valley Borough Council’s Benefit Investigation Unit revealed he had been living with his partner since 2007.

Mr Brown admitted three offences under the Social Security Administration Act and was given 16 weeks custody, suspended for 12 months, as well as a Community Order for 150 hours of unpaid work.

In a separate case, a 27-year-old mother of two was convicted after she falsely claimed more than £17,500 in the same benefits. Emma Codling, of Cedar Avenue in Alfreton, pleaded guilty to failing to declare a change in her circumstances after an investigation revealed she was living with her partner despite claiming to be living alone as single parent for a period of two years and seven months. She was given a 12 month Community Order after admitting three offences under the Social Security Administration Act.

Both cases were heard at Southern Derbyshire Magistrates Court and arrangements were made in each to pay back the benefits fraudulently claimed in instalments.

• With millions of people on benefits, it's utterly impossible to police their living arrangements. Enforcement is time consuming, and in the highly unlikely event you get caught, the sentences are not a great deterrent.