28 November 2011
Benefit Fraud Cases in November
On Tuesday 8 November 2011 Huntingdon Magistrates dealt with a number of prosecutions brought by Huntingdonshire District Council against individuals who have pleaded guilty to committing benefit fraud offences.
Peter Barnes (29) of Bean Close, St Neots pleaded guilty to six charges of claiming housing benefit, council tax benefit and job seekers allowance between August 2008 and September 2010. Barnes admitted that he had worked for two employers whilst claiming benefits stating he was unemployed and was overpaid £4,854.25. He received a 12 month community Order with a requirement to undertake 120 hours unpaid work. Barnes, who has already made arrangements to repay the benefits he claimed, was also ordered to pay the councils costs of £520.00, the chair of the bench told him that his co-operation with the investigation, guilty pleas and arrangements to repay the defrauded sums had kept him out of prison.
Eammon Cleere (49) of Nene Road, Huntingdon was found guilty on 27 September 2011, in his absence, when he failed to attend court of one charge of benefit fraud that occurred in 2010. A warrant for his arrest had been served and his case adjourned to the 8 November so that he could be sentenced. The court heard that Cleere had claimed housing benefit and council tax benefit in March 2010 whilst he was off work sick but had failed to report that he had returned to work in June 2010. He was overpaid £2,727.28 between June and December 2010. Cleere has arranged to repay the benefits and was ordered to pay a fine of £200 and the council’s costs of £440.00.
Joan East (59) of Sapley Park, Huntingdon pleaded guilty to three charges of benefit fraud between October 2007 and July 2010 by failing to declare that she held capital in a number of bank accounts. As a result of her failure to declare her bank accounts and monies held in them East was overpaid £6,350.90 between 2007 and 2011.
David Potter, representing East, said that his client had received an inheritance in October 2007 and had paid this into bank accounts which she had concealed from the council. He said that she had co-operated with the council repaying all the money she had claimed and entered guilty pleas at the first opportunity. Mr Potter said that his client was embarrassed and ashamed of her actions which were very much out of character and had resulted in the loss of her good name. East was ordered to pay a fine of £600 and the council’s costs of £460.00 in full within 28 days.
Councillor Barry Chapman, whose executive responsibilities include customer services said: “The council takes benefit fraud very seriously, and we encourage the public to report fraud where they see it and support investigations if necessary.”
If you know of someone who is claiming benefit when they are not entitled to it, you can contact the council’s confidential fraud hotline on 01480 388188 or e-mail the Fraud team using the link on the right. Leave as much information as possible to ensure that the council is aware of the full facts before an investigation commences. All reports received will be dealt with