Benefit cheats must pay £21,000

FOUR benefit cheats who collectively claimed more than £21,000 to which they were not entitled appeared before Warrington Magistrates on the same day.
Helen Colman, aged 34, of Stocks Lane, Penketh falsely claimed a total of £8,047. She pleaded guilty to two charges of benefit fraud by claiming benefits as a lone parent when in fact her husband was living with her and in full-time employment.
She was sentenced to 120 hours unpaid work, was made subject to a 16 week curfew order between 7.00pm and 7.00am and ordered to pay £100 costs.
Mary Carey, aged 53, of Corbet Avenue, Longford pleaded guilty to claiming benefits as a lone parent when her husband was living with her and in full-time employment.
The offence took place between July 2008 and December 2009. Housing Benefit overpayment amounted to £4,604 and Council Tax Benefit overpayment amounted to £880, making a total loss to the public purse of £5,484.
She was sentenced to 120 hours unpaid work, was made subject to a 13 week curfew order between 8.00pm and 5.00am was and ordered to pay £100 costs.
John McGrath, aged 42, of Mercer Street, Burtonwood, pleaded guilty to one charge of benefit fraud by failing to let the council’s benefit team know his job seekers allowance had stopped and he was in employment.
The offence took place between March and September 2009. Housing Benefit overpayment amounted to £2,358 and Council Tax Benefit overpayment amounted to £357, making a total loss to the public purse of £2,715.
He was sentenced to 60 hours unpaid work and ordered to pay £100 costs.
Michael Swann, aged 42, of Thelwall Lane, Latchford pleaded guilty to two charges of benefit fraud by failing to declare that his incapacity benefit had stopped.
This took place between January 2008 and May 2009. Housing Benefit overpayment amounted to £4,674 and Council Tax Benefit overpayment amounted to £835, making a total loss to the public purse of £5,509.
He was sentenced to 120 hours unpaid work and ordered to pay £100 costs.
After the hearings, Adrian Webster, Warrington borough council’s benefits manager said: “The council takes benefit theft very seriously. Although the vast majority of people who claim benefits are honest, those who steal benefits are picking the pockets of law-abiding Warrington taxpayers.”