A benefit cheat who defrauded Warrington Borough Council of £18,312.99 has received a suspended prison sentence, ordered to do 200 hours unpaid community service and told to pay back the money.
Stephanie Green, 27, of Winchester Road, Great Sankey, appeared at Chester Crown Court where she pleaded guilty to five counts of benefit fraud.
The court heard that Green had failed to notify the council and the Department for Work and Pensions that her partner was living with her whilst she claimed benefits as a lone parent.
Green was overpaid £11,712.94 in housing benefit, £2,083.16 in council tax benefit/support and £4,516.89 of income support since 16 April 2012.
As a result, she was given a 20 week custodial sentence suspended for 18 months, 200 hours unpaid work, £250 legal costs and an £80 victim surcharge.
Green was ordered to repay the over payment in full.
Adrian Webster, the council’s benefits and exchequer services manager, said: “Every day in the UK over 200 benefit thieves are caught – the clear message is – if you commit benefit fraud you will be caught.”
Anyone who suspects someone is fraudulently claiming benefits to which they are not entitled is asked to either call the council’s confidential benefit fraud hotline on 442282 / 442283, email [email protected] or report it online: www.warrington.gov.uk/report.
1 Comment
No excuse for benefit fraud and taking money you are not entitled too. It’s good that the council and other departments are catching these people out and taking a hard stance against them especially when there are so many people who genuinely do need help and the money.