Ewell benefit fraudsters sentenced after claiming more than £25,000
10:00am Wednesday 28th September 2011 in News By Lauren May
Benefit fraudsters sentenced after claiming more than £25,000
Two women have been ordered to pay back over £25,000 in benefits after admitting submitting fraudulent claims.
The women were sentenced for separate offences at South East Surrey Magistrates earlier this month after a joint investigation by Epsom and Ewell Council and the Department for Work and Pensions.
Maria De Sousa, of Colne Court, Ewell, who fraudulently received over £10,800, pleaded guilty to three counts of benefit fraud after failing to declare her partner had moved in to live with her two years earlier.
De Sousa was ordered to complete 100 hours of unpaid work, pay £100 towards the prosecution costs and repay all the benefits she fraudulently obtained.
On the same day, Lisa-Marie Bennett, of Chessington Road, Ewell, who fraudulently received over £14,700, pleaded guilty to three counts of benefit fraud after she too failed to declare that her partner had moved in after they married.
Bennett was given a three-week curfew and ordered to wear a tagging device, ordered to pay £100 towards the prosecution costs, and will have to repay all overpaid benefits.
Councillor Neil Dallen, chair of the council’s Strategy and Resources Committee said: "Income support, housing benefit and council tax benefit are all funded by the taxpayer and Epsom and Ewell Council has a duty to protect this money.
"It is important that we take benefit fraud very seriously, and we won’t hesitate to take legal action against those who try and defraud the benefits system which exists to help those in need."
"’Living together offences are among the more common reasons that people are found to be committing benefit fraud.
"These and some other recent convictions show that this is able to be detected and in time offenders will be caught."
Anyone with information about someone claiming benefits they are not entitled to should call the Fraud Hotline on 01372 732275.
All calls are confidential and will be investigated.
Srico87 says...
11:14pm Wed 28 Sep 11