Benefit fraudsters have nowhere to hide
Published Wednesday 24th November 10 in Council - news and information releases news
A man was jailed and three other people have been fined after admitting fraudulently obtaining benefits they were not entitled to.
Jamie Ridout, 37, of West Avenue , Clacton-on-Sea , was jailed for 12 weeks after admitting dishonestly claiming benefits worth £5,209.47 from Southend-on-Sea Borough Council.
Magistrates in Southend heard how Ridout left his address in the town in January 2009 to move to Clacton .
But between February and December that year he handed over false documents and phoned the Council eight times to chase housing benefit payments for his old home.
He later failed to declare that from March last year he was claiming Housing Benefit from Tendring District Council at the same time.
At the same court Mrs Kris Kennedy, 60, formerly of Brightwell Avenue , Southend, admitted nine benefit fraud offences which led to an overpayment of £4,548.
She was sentenced to a 100-hour community punishment order and ordered to pay £553.24 costs.
Kennedy, who has since fully repaid her illegally-obtained benefits, applied for Council Tax benefit despite having £80,000 in two bank accounts she had failed to declare.
She was caught out by a data-matching exercise and admitted what she had done during an interview under caution at Southend Civic Centre in October 2008.
The interview was suspended so that her bank details could be obtained, but when it resumed some months later she walked out and later failed to attend court when summonsed.
A warrant without bail was issued and despite claims that Kennedy was staying in Thailand she was finally traced to an address in Romford.
In another case Howard Spurling and his wife, Stacey, both 47, of Lifstan Way , Southend, appeared at Basildon Crown Court.
The couple admitted failing to inform the Council that their income had been boosted due to Mr Spurling's increased overtime payments from work.
They each received a 12-month conditional discharge and were ordered to pay back the £2,217.30 Housing Benefit overpayment and £100 costs.
Southend-on-Sea Borough Council's Corporate Director for Support Services, Andrew Moring, said: "The Council is committed to paying benefits to those who are entitled to them.
"However, we also have a duty to protect the public purse and take action against those who commit benefit fraud.
"As these cases indicate, repayment of benefit is not the only action we may take.
"Anyone who has suspicions over a person's entitlement to benefit can call the Investigations Team direct on 01702-215254, the Report Line on 01702-215215 or e-mail counterfraud@southend.gov.uk
"All information received is treated in the strictest confidence."