Curfew order for benefit cheat

A BENEFIT cheat who falsely claimed £10,460 from the council and Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has been caught and sentenced and ordered to back the overpayment.

Maureen Campbell, 59, of Chippindall Close, Great Sankey, Warrington, pleaded guilty to benefit fraud at Halton Magistrates’ Court on 3 March.

Campbell was claiming benefits when she was in fact in employment.

Between August 2005 and July 2007 Campbell falsely claimed £7,176 income support from the DWP and Housing Benefit of £2,511 housing benefit and £772 council tax benefit from the council, bringing the total to £10,460 for the above period.

Campbell received a four month curfew order, meaning she cannot leave her house between 7pm - 7am and was ordered to pay £100 costs.

Adrian Webster, the Council’s Benefits Manager, says, “Deliberately withholding information that affects your claim is stealing. That’s why we are targeting benefit thieves”
“The obvious message to benefit cheats is you will be caught. This case is yet another clear demonstration of our determination to tackle benefit fraud.”

Fraud Operations Manager for the DWP Roy Paul added: “The public is fed up with cheats who steal money from the taxpayer when it should go to those in genuine need of help.”

People in Warrington can give information about alleged fraudsters free and in confidence on the National Benefit Fraud Hotline on 0800 854440.
Ends

Issued by:  Joanna Driscoll, Principal Communications Officer
Date:   Monday 17 March, 2008
Release: Immediate