On Monday 8 September 2008, a Ramsey woman received a suspended prison sentence following a prosecution brought by Huntingdonshire District Council for benefit fraud.
Ann Cusack (43) of Canberra Court, Ramsey, was sentenced by Huntingdon magistrates following a trial in August when she had denied seven charges of benefit fraud. Cusack, who was found guilty, received an eight- week prison sentence suspended for 18 months. She was also ordered to complete 18 months of supervision with the Cambridgeshire Probation and undertake 80 hours unpaid work. Cusack was ordered to pay £2,000 compensation to HDC and the court heard that the balance of benefits she fraudulently claimed will be recovered by the council
At her trial in August, the court was told that Cusack was charged with seven counts of making false benefit claims and failing to report changes when these occurred between February 2003 and December 2005. Lowri Roberts, for the council said that between those dates Cusack had failed to reveal when she made claims for housing benefit and council tax benefit that her partner lived at her address and as a result had been overpaid £11,334.76. The information had come to light following a routine visit following which an extensive investigation had taken place.
Although Cusack denied the offences, on hearing the evidence the bench found her guilty on all charges. In sentencing, the chairman of the bench told her that due to the length of time over which the offending had occurred and the large amount of money involved only a prison sentence was appropriate. However, a decision had been made to suspend such a sentence due to her previous good character and to assist in the repayment of the benefits she had falsely claimed.
On Wednesday 10 September 2008 at Huntingdon Magistrates, Angelina Sniadkowska (24) of Orthwaite Huntingdon pleaded guilty to two charges of benefit fraud between April and November 2007 when she failed to declare that she had commenced work. The court heard that Sniadkowska had made a legitimate claim initially in 2006, but when she commenced work in April 207 she failed to disclose this to the council until November 2007. Sniadkowska, who was overpaid £2383 in housing and council tax benefits received a 12 month conditional discharge and was ordered to pay prosecution costs of £200. The chairman of the bench told her the sentence was reduced due to her guilty pleas, early admissions and because she had repaid the overpayments in full to the council.
On the same day at Huntingdon a case against Richard Morgan (30) of Witham Close, St Ives was adjourned to 8 October 2008 for probation reports prior to sentence. This followed his guilty pleas to seven charges of benefit fraud between 2005 and 2008. These had resulted in overpayments of £15,415 housing benefit and council tax benefit.
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 using the link on the right.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.