Benefits Fraudsters are brought to Book
0078/ir
12 May 2008
On Wednesday 30th April, four people living in the
Borough were brought before the Magistrates Courts and charged with
offences under Section 112 of the Social Security Administration
Act 1992.
Carly Trigg pleaded guilty to knowingly making
false representation by declaring that she was a lone parent when,
in fact, she was living with her partner, David Cullerton.
Cullerton pleaded guilty to knowingly allowing to be produced,
information which was false. Carly Trigg was sentenced to
carry out 50 hours of unpaid work, fined £419.81 costs and a
Collection Order was issued. David Cullerton was sentenced to
carry out 40 hours of unpaid work and ordered to pay costs of
£419.81. A further Collection Order was applied.
Anthony Graham was charged with knowingly
failing to give prompt notification of a change in circumstances,
namely that he had started work. The Crewe Justices sentenced
Graham to serve a Curfew Order and to wear an electronic tag for a
period of three months. He was also ordered to repay £780 at
a minimum of £5 per week and subject to a Collection Order.
Andrea Alcock, who had previously entered a
plea of ‘not guilty’ to two charges under the Social Security
Administration Act, was found guilty of both offences. She
had failed to declare that her partner had moved in with her.
Alcock was fined £500 to be repaid at a minimum of £5 per
week. She was further sentenced to a 12-month Community Order
and had imposed a Curfew Order for 3 months that would be in force
from 7.00pm each evening until 7.00am each morning.
For the Borough Council’s Benefits
Investigation Section, manager Sally-Anne Poole said: “The
Borough Council and the Courts treat benefit fraud, of any kind, as
a very serious matter. Benefit thieves drain resources meant
for more vulnerable members of the community. Crewe and
Nantwich Borough Council will continue to crack down to make sure
that benefit is only paid to those who act within the law.”
Anyone wishing to report a suspected fraud
should contact the Fraud Hotline on 0800 389 2787.
COUNCIL CONTACT: Sally-Anne Poole –
Benefits Investigation Manager
TELEPHONE:
01270 537195
EMAIL: sally.poole@crewe-nantwich.gov.uk
For Media enquiries contact:
Ian Richardson -
01270 537018
http://www.crewe-nantwich.gov.uk/