On Friday 9 November 2007, Huntingdon magistrates dealt with a case of benefit fraud following investigations conducted by Huntingdonshire District Council’s fraud team resulting form a tip off from a member of the public.
Linda Evans (57) of Canberra Court, Ramsey had pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to five charges of benefit fraud between 2002 and 2006. The court heard that Evans had claimed housing benefit and council tax benefit from the council as a single person on a low income.
In May 2006 a report from a member of the public suggested that her claims were false. An investigation conducted by council fraud officers revealed evidence that Evans had access to a bank account that she had not declared to the council and had been using money in this and other accounts between 2002 and 2006. She was interviewed by investigators from the council and admitted that she did have access to money that she had not declared on her claims. Checks with the banks showed that Evans had regularly drawn large sums of money each month from those accounts and had used a credit card to pay for holidays, home improvements and shopping for clothes. As a result Evans was found to have been overpaid £13,232.27 housing and council tax benefit between 2002 and 2006 because she had income and a bank account she had not declared on her claims for benefit.
In mitigation Nenad Spasojevic, for Mrs Evans, told the court that she had shown genuine remorse and was ashamed of the fact that at the age of 57 she found herself in the criminal court for the first time in her life. He said that Evans had entered into agreements with the council to repay the benefit she had been overpaid but that it will take a very long time for this to occur due to her reduced circumstances and low income. Mr Spesojavich said that Mrs Evans had co-operated with the council throughout their enquiries and had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity. The failure to declare the additional income and access to a bank account had been an oversight more than a deliberate attempt to defraud the council.
The chair of the bench told Evans that this was serious matter and sentenced her to a 24 month community order as well as a further 20 month supervision order. she was also ordered to pay the council £370 as a contribution towards its prosecution and investigation costs.
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. You can also report fraud by e-mailing the Fraud Team using the link on the right FraudTeam@huntsdc.gov.uk or by visiting the Councils website Huntsdc.gov .uk When calling 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 and treated in the strictest confidence.