01 April 2010
Benefit Fraud
On Monday 29 March 2010 at Huntingdon Crown Court, a local woman was sentenced for making false claims for benefit over a period of nearly 10 years.
The court heard that Patricia Phillips (74) of Miller Way, Brampton, had pleaded guilty in February to six counts of benefit fraud. She had made claims for housing benefit and council tax benefit between 2000 and 2009 totalling £45,671. On all the claims she declared that she received just a state pension and had savings of around £3,000.
Anand Beharrylal, prosecuting for Huntingdonshire District Council said that an investigation into her claims for benefit began in 2009 when information was received that she had been in receipt of an NHS pension for some time. Further inquiries revealed that she was receiving a pension from her late husband’s employer and this was paid into an undeclared account. It was discovered she had held capital in excess of the £16,000 limit allowed for benefit claimants.
Her claims were reassessed and she was found not to be entitled to any of the sums she had received between 2000 and 2009.
The court was told that Phillips had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity to the charges and had already repaid over £16,000 of the money wrongly claimed.
In ordering her to complete 120 hours of unpaid work in the community, His Honour Judge Richards told Phillips, that she was not only of good character, she had lived an industrious life to bring up her family, and that by her actions she had lost her good name. He said it must have been apparent to her that her claim was not correct. She had taken nearly £46,000 in benefit to which she was not entitled and she chose not to disclose her correct circumstances. He said the sums overpaid were equivalent to two years average income for someone in work, adding: “There are a number of losers in this case, including everyone in this court room”. He went onto say that benefit fraud is not a victimless crime as it is public money which has been defrauded from tax payers.
In addition to the order to carry out community work, Phillips was required to pay £28,093 compensation to the council, and a contribution of £3,000 to the council’s costs. The judge ordered the costs to be paid within seven days as he did not see why the public should bear the cost of bringing the matter to court.
Cases heard at Huntingdon magistrates court on Wednesday 24th March included:
Timothy Ballard (67) of Oak Tree Court, Godmanchester. Between October 2007 and September 2008 he was overpaid £4,683 in various benefits. Three charges of failing to declare work to Huntingdonshire District Council and the Department for Work and Pensions were brought against him. The case was proved in his absence and a warrant for his immediate arrest for him to be sentenced was issued.
Karen Anderson (47) of Pitfield Close, Fenstanton, pleaded guilty to a charge of failing to declare an increase in wages and new tax credits. Her offending was discovered when her claim was subject to a routine review. She was overpaid £2,578 in housing benefit and council tax benefit between April 2008 and September 2009. Anderson who was of previous good character and who has made arrangements to repay the debts was given a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £50 costs.
A warrant for the arrest of Katherine Eaton, (29) of Hayling Avenue, Little Paxton, was issued in order that she could be sentenced. Two charges against her of failing to declare work whilst she claimed benefit when living in Eynesbury, were heard on 10 March. The court heard overpayments of £4,200 in housing benefit and council tax benefit had occurred between June 2008 and August 2009.
A warrant for the arrest of Donnah Parsons (36) formerly of Kent Road, Huntingdon, and now living at Luddington Close, Great Paxton, was also issued. Her case, one charge of failing to declare that she was in paid work, was proved in her absence on 10 March. Ms Parsons was £2,768 in housing benefit and council tax benefit between March 2009 and August 2009.
If you know someone who is claiming benefit when they are not entitled to it you can contact the council’s fraud investigation team on 01480 388480 or call the confidential fraud hotline on 01480 388188. When calling, please leave as much information as possible to ensure the council is aware of the full facts before an investigation commences. All calls received will be dealt with.