A Yaxley woman appeared before Peterborough Magistrates on Thursday 12 January, and pleaded guilty to 10 charges of benefit fraud relating to false claims.
The case was the result of a joint investigation by Huntingdonshire District Council and the Department of Work and Pensions.
Damien Willetts prosecuting for the DWP and the council told the court that the matters relating to the 10 charges resulted in overpayments of more than £24,000, being made to Lisa Burdock (33) of Rolls Close, Yaxley. Over a period of two years Burdock had worked as a self employed nail technician but did not report this work to the council or the DWP, and continued to claim benefits from both.
As well as pleading guilty to the 10 charges Burdock asked for 52 other related offences to be taken into consideration. The case was adjourned to 10 February 2006 for sentence. The magistrates referred it to the Crown Court accepting that their maximum sentencing powers were likely to be insufficient.
On Thursday 12 January 2006 at Huntingdon Magistrates court Natalie Sloan (25) of West Avenue, Ramsey, pleaded guilty to one count of benefit fraud.
Veronica Candy prosecuting for the council told the court that Sloan had made claims for benefit between November 2002 and October 2003, declaring that she was the only adult living in the property. A tip-off from a member of the public had indicated that a male also lived at the address. An investigation had revealed that this was the case. A man had lived at Miss Sloan’s address between 2002 and 2003 and she had failed to report this fact to the council. As a result of her failure to declare this change she was overpaid £2242.21 in housing benefit and £162.56 in council tax benefit.
In ordering her to serve a 12-month conditional discharge, and awarding £200 costs to the council, the chairman of the bench told Sloan that this was a serious matter and had caused financial loss from the tax payer and the sentence and costs reflected that.
BENEFIT FRAUD CASES/2
Further cases were presented to Huntingdon Magistrates on Wednesday 11 January 2006, but were adjourned.
If you know someone who is claiming benefit when they are not entitled to it you can contact the Fraud Investigation Team on 01480 388480 or call the 24 hour confidential Fraud Hot Line on 01480 388188. When calling either number please leave as much information as possible to ensure that the council is aware of the full facts before an investigation commences. All calls received will be dealt with.