On Friday 9 February 2007 at Huntingdon Magistrates’ court two local women pleaded guilty to benefit fraud following investigations conducted by Huntingdonshire District Council’s fraud team.
The court heard that Mrs Lisa Gubb (31) of Granta Close, St Ives, had claimed housing and council tax benefit since 2003 as a single parent and sole adult living at her address. In October 2005 an allegation was received from a member of the public stating that Mrs Gubb’s husband had been living with her for some time. An investigation confirmed that he had lived at the address between 2004 and 2005 and as a result overpayments of £2,413.95 housing and council tax benefit occurred. Mrs Gubb was interviewed by officers from the council and admitted that her estranged husband had lived at her address and that she not reported this to the council. She pleaded guilty to two counts of benefit fraud received a 12 month conditional discharge and was ordered to pay £370 towards the cost of the prosecution and investigation. Mrs Gubb has made arrangements to repay the benefits that she received that she was not entitled to.
The court also heard that Emma Newman (22) of William Drive, Eynesbury had failed to report, whilst she was receiving benefit that she had returned to work. The court was told that Miss Newman had claimed housing benefit and council tax benefit in December 2005 when she became unemployed. In March 2006 a routine data-matching exercise identified that she had returned to work in January 2006 and although she had stopped claiming Job Seekers Allowance she had not correctly reported this change to the council and as a result had continued to receive benefit payments. Miss Newman, who had not taken up an option to resolve the matter out of court, was found to have been overpaid £313.18 housing and council tax benefit. Miss Newman pleaded guilty to one offence of benefit fraud and received a 3 month conditional discharge she was also ordered to pay HDC £179 compensation, which was the balance of benefit not already repaid by her, and £50 prosecution costs.
On Wednesday 14 February 2007 Simon and Deborah Latore, formerly of Green Tiles Close, Huntingdon pleaded guilty to two charges of making false benefit claims. They admitted that after they had made claims for housing and council tax benefit in July 2002 Mr Latore started full time work but they did not declare this to the council even though they continued to receive benefit. The couple subsequently left the area and moved to Norfolk in 2003.
An investigation was conducted in 2003 following a tip off from a member of public. Checks with Mr Latore’s employer confirmed that he worked between September 2002 and February 2003. The couple were interviewed by officers from the council and although Mr Latore admitted he had worked Mrs Latore said she had no idea that her husband was employed.
Mr Latore, who currently lives in Huntingdon, was sentenced to 100 hours community punishment and ordered to repay all the benefit overpaid by way of compensation to the council of £1323.40. Mrs Latore, who now lives in Peterborough, received a 12-month conditional discharge. The couple were also ordered to pay the council’s costs of £480.
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.