A PENSIONER who falsely claimed almost £15,000 from Warrington Borough Council has been given a suspended jail sentence.
Barrie Jackson, 73, from Cherry Lane, Lymm pleaded guilty at Warrington Magistrates’ Court to making false claims to obtain council tax and housing benefits over a six year period.
He was sentenced to 12 weeks imprisonment, suspended for 12 months and also given a six month supervision order. He was ordered to pay £100 costs.
The court was told that between October 2001 and December last year, Jackson failed to declare that he was running his own business.
He was ordered repay the £9,888.07 housing benefit and £5,063.56 council tax benefit he was overpaid.
After the hearing, Adrian Webster, the council’s benefits manager, said: “Deliberately withholding information that affects your claim is stealing.
“Benefit thieves must realise that they cannot abuse the benefit system and steal from the rest of society. They are not just defrauding the government, but their own tax paying neighbours and communities in Warrington.”
A PENSIONER who falsely claimed almost £15,000 from Warrington Borough Council has been given a suspended jail sentence.
Pensioner cheated council out of £15,000
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Gary Skentelbery
Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.
