Benefit cheat caught

A BENEFIT cheat who falsely claimed £7,916 from the council has received a community punishment order, fined and ordered to pay back the overpayment.

Jenny Bignell, aged 26, of St Mary's Rd, Penketh, Warrington, falsely claimed housing benefit of £6,572 and council tax benefit of £1,344, a total of £7,916, between February 2004 and November 2005.

She pleaded not guilty at Warrington’s Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday 7 May, but was found guilty after the case went to trial.

She was prosecuted under Section 111A of the Social Security Administration Act 1992, were she dishonestly failed to promptly notify a change in her circumstances, namely that she was living with her partner.

Bignell was sentenced to 150 hours community punishment order and ordered to pay £350 costs.
Adrian Webster, the council’s benefits manager, said: “There are no ifs, no buts when it comes to benefit fraud. Deliberately withholding information that affects your claim is stealing. That’s why we are targeting benefit thieves. This case is yet another clear demonstration of our determination to tackle benefit fraud.”

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

Issued by:  Gina Coldrick, Press Officer
Date:   Tuesday 13 May 2008
Release: Immediate