04 January 2012
Benefit fraud
On Tuesday 13 December 2011 Huntingdon Magistrates imposed prison sentences on a local couple following an investigation conducted by Huntingdonshire District Council and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
Lawrence Stevens (47) and Ruth Edley (46) both of Brampton Road, Huntingdon had pleaded guilty to 15 charges of benefit fraud at an earlier hearing. Nick Jennings, prosecuting for both the council and the DWP, told the court that Stevens and Edley had colluded together between 2004 and 2011 to take advantage of the benefit system. Over seven years Stevens had claimed benefit whilst unemployed on eight occasions, and each time he had declared that he was the sole occupant of his rented flat reliant on state benefits.
In 2010 an allegation had been received from a member of the public reporting that Stevens lived with his partner Ruth Edley, who was employed by Cambridgeshire County Council, for ten years. Enquiries conducted by investigators revealed that Edley had lived at Stevens’ address from at least 2004 when he first claimed benefit and that Edley owned a flat in Leicester which was rented to tenants. Throughout the period the couple had done everything they could to conceal Edley’s residence with Stevens on benefit claims, electoral roll forms, council tax liability and rent agreements. Both defendants had been interviewed about the allegation, but both chose not to answer any questions put to them about the matter.
As a result of the investigation it was found that Stevens had been overpaid £32,882 as a result of his false claims. Stevens was charged with making false claims for benefit, and Edley with allowing him to make those claims.
David Potter, for Edley, said his client was of previous good character, had entered guilty pleas at the first opportunity and had made arrangement to pay back £350 per month jointly with Mr Stevens. Elaine Havord, for Stevens, said that her client accepted that he would in all probability be sent to prison, but asked the court to reduce any sentence for his guilty pleas. She said that although Stevens had previous convictions these were old with the last being in 2003 and asked the court to ignore his previous history of offending.
In sentencing the chair of the bench told the couple that they had acted together to take advantage of the benefit system, that their decision was based purely on greed and that the offending occurred over a long period. Stevens was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment. He was told that credit for his guilty plea had been given by not referring his case to the Crown Court for sentencing. Edley received a two month prison sentence that was suspended for 12 months with a requirement that she undertake 200 hours unpaid work. Edley was also ordered to pay the council’s full costs of £480 for her part in the offending.
In separate matters Joseph Stone (76) of Queensway, St Neots pleaded guilty to five charges of benefit fraud admitting that he had claimed £18,427 in various benefits between 2005 and 2010. Stone had claimed benefits based on his state pension since 2002, but in 2005 he started full time work and between then and 2010 worked for a variety of employers and hid this work from the council and the DWP. Stone received a 12 month Community Order with a requirement to undertake 80 hours unpaid work. He was also ordered to pay the council’s costs of £440. Stone was told he would have faced a much more serious penalty if it had not been for his full co-operation, repayment of the sums he had defrauded, his age and his previous good character.
Lee Zander (38) of Charles Close, Ramsey also pleaded guilty to four charges of benefit fraud between 2009 and 2010. Zander had claimed benefit in 2008 whilst in receipt of incapacity benefit and from 2009 based on job seekers allowance, but failed to report to the authorities that he had worked through a recruitment agency from July 2009 until October 2010. Zander, who was overpaid £3,142, was represented by David Potter who said his client accepted his guilt and had made arrangements to repay the sums owed to the council and the DWP. He received a 24 month conditional discharge and was ordered to pay the council’s costs of £240.
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. 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.