TWO men who between them falsely claimed benefit totalling almost £5,000 have been ordered by magistrates to repay the money.
Lee Miller, 25 and Craig Haslam, 28 both admitted the offences when they appeared before Warrington Magistrates on the same day.
The court was told Miller, of Normanby Close, Bewsey failed to notify the borough council that he had started work in November 2009 and continued to claim benefits until March last year. He was overpaid housing benefit of £986 and council tax benefit of £285.
He was ordered to pay the money, plus £200 costs and conditionally discharged for 12 months.
Haslam, of Forster Street, Longford, failed to declare he was working between August and December, 2008 and November 2009 and April last year. During these periods he continued to received benefits and was overpaid housing benefit of £2,469, council tax benefit of £207 and income support of £864.
He was ordered to pay the money back, plus £100 costs and was given a 12 month conditional discharge.
After the hearings, Adrian Webster, the council’s benefits manager, said: “Deliberately withholding information that affects your claim is stealing. That’s why we are targeting benefit thieves. We’re closing in on benefit thieves with every means at our disposal.”
TWO men who between them falsely claimed benefit totalling almost £5,000 have been ordered by magistrates to repay the money.
Benefit cheats obtained £5,000
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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.
3 Comments
“every means at our disposal” doesn’t seem to include a prison sentence. What deterrent is a conditional discharge?
The ‘condition’ part will mean if he tries to do something similar again he will definitely go to prison. It costs far more to put someone in prison at taxpayers expense , so I would prefer that these people have to support themselves and work outside prison rather than being in prison at my expense.
“………………housing benefit of £2,469, council tax benefit of £207 and income support of £864……..” on top of his dole money and various other freebies in just 11 months??? Nearly £4,000….? No wonder they don’t want to bloody work!