The following matters were among cases heard by Huntingdon Magistrates on Wednesday 14 November:

A 12-month conditional discharge was imposed on Angela Baker (28) of Fairey Avenue, Godmanchester, who pleaded guilty to two charges relating to her failure to declare that a partner was living with her.

The court was told that Mrs Baker claimed housing benefit and council tax benefit as a single parent. In 2004 a report from a member of the public suggested that a partner had been living with her for some time.
An investigation by Huntingdonshire District Council and the Department for Work and Pensions showed that between October 2004 and September 2005 Mrs Baker had been paid £3,653 in benefits that she was not entitled to.

Her solicitor told the court that she was of previous good character and had made arrangements to repay the money wrongly claimed. He said it had been an honest mistake, for which she had now lost her good name. Mrs Baker was ordered to pay £50 costs.

A 12-month conditional discharge was also imposed on Kim James (35) of Ash Close, Huntingdon, who pleaded guilty to one charge of failing to declare work.

The court heard that Ms James had claimed housing benefit and council tax benefit from 2005, as an unemployed person. Following routine checks in late 2006 it was found that her unemployment benefits had ceased and she had commenced work some time earlier. Further investigation revealed that she had been employed since May 2006 but had not reported this to the council. She was invited to attend an interview at the council offices but failed to attend or offer any explanation for her failure to declare that she had returned to work. As a result of the investigation Ms James was found to have been overpaid £1,477 in housing benefit and council tax benefit between May and September 2006.

In mitigation, her solicitor said that she had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity and was of previous good character. Ms James was ordered to pay £1,239 compensation to the council and £240 costs.

Karen Long (53), of Kings Road, St Neots, pleaded guilty to a charge relating to claiming benefits for an address when not resident there.
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BENEFIT FRAUD CASES/2
On behalf of the district council, Vicki Stevens said that Ms Long had claimed housing benefit and council tax benefit for a number of years while living at an address in Peer Road, Eaton Socon. In March 2006 a report was received from Ms Long’s landlords and neighbours that she was no longer resident there. Extensive investigations were conducted jointly by the council’s fraud team and environmental health teams as well as other government agencies. These showed that Long had vacated the property at Peer Road but maintained it to house two dogs. The court was shown pictures taken at the property by environmental health officers.

Miss Stevens said Ms long had been overpaid £946 in housing benefit and £299 council tax benefit. A 12 month conditional discharge was imposed on Ms Long and she was ordered to pay costs of £425.

In mitigation, Ms Long’s solicitor told the court she was of previous good character and the offending had been as a result of an honest mistake and not a deliberate attempt to defraud.