The following benefit fraud cases have been heard in local courts over the past week:
On Monday 2 June, at Huntingdon Magistrates Court, Donna Preston (24) of Crown Walk, Eaton Socon, was found guilty of two benefit offences following a day long trial. The magistrates heard from Veronica Candy, prosecuting for Huntingdonshire District Council, that Preston had claimed housing benefit and council tax benefit while living at Monarch Road, Eaton Socon, between May 2006 and December 2006. Preston had claimed as an unemployed lone parent, but following a tip-off from a member of the public, an investigation revealed that Preston’s partner, who was in full-time work, had lived with her. Preston was overpaid £2,767 between May 2006 and December 2006.
A number of witnesses, including family members, gave evidence for Preston, who denied the allegations. Having heard all the evidence the bench found her guilty. The case was adjourned to 12 June, for pre-sentence reports.
Jane Corteil (36) of Rectory Road, Bluntisham was found guilty of three charges of benefit fraud between April 2002 and July 2004, in a prosecution brought by Huntingdonshire District Council and the Department for Work and Pensions on Thursday 29 May. During a two-day trial at Peterborough Crown Court the hearing was told that she had failed to declare on claims for housing benefit, council tax benefit and income support that her partner lived with her. The court heard from a number of witnesses and returned a verdict of guilty on all three charges involving overpayments of £9,633. she was released on bail for reports to be prepared prior to sentencing on 30 June at Huntingdon Crown Court.
Leigh Turnbull (37) of Silver Street, Buckden, pleaded guilty to two charges of benefit fraud between March 2002 and June 2006 in that she failed to declare that her partner lived with her.
Hearing the case, brought by Huntingdonshire District Council and the Department for Work and Pensions, on Thursday 29 May, at Huntingdon, magistrates were told that Turnbull had failed to report to the council had moved in with her at two addresses while she claimed £12,818 in housing and council tax benefit. Her case was adjourned to 25 June for sentence.
On Wednesday 28 May at Huntingdon Magistrates Court, Josephine Thompson (24) of Lansdowne Road, Yaxley, pleaded guilty to two matters of obtaining £1,094 in housing and council tax benefits by failing to declare an increase in her own wages and the fact that her partner had started work. She was sentenced to 100 hours of unpaid work in the community and ordered to pay £100 costs.
Samantha Jewell, for Thompson, told the court that she had made arrangements to repay the overpaid benefits and had co-operated throughout the investigation, entering guilty pleas at the earliest opportunity.
The chairman of the bench, having been told this was Thompson’s second conviction for benefit fraud, warned her that if she appeared in court again she might face a prison sentence.
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-mail by using the link on the right or visiting the Council's website. When calling, please leave as much information as possible to ensure the council is aware of the full facts before an investigation commences. All calls will be dealt with, and treated in the strictest confidence.