Suspended prison sentence for benefit fraudster

Archived press release

Date Published: 21/05/10

A benefit cheat who defrauded more than £30,000 has received a suspended jail sentence after a joint prosecution by Aylesbury Vale District Council and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

Aylesbury resident Marion Whittingham was prosecuted by AVDC and the DWP for failing to declare that she was in employment between 2002 and 2009, during which time she was in receipt of income support, severe disablement allowance and housing and council tax benefit.

She told AVDC and the DWP that she was unemployed during that time due to long term illness and was therefore eligible to receive benefits.

Mrs Whittingham, 55, of Grenville Road, appeared at Aylesbury Magistrates’ Court on 18 May after previously pleading guilty to four counts of benefit fraud.

The amount that she fraudulently claimed totalled £31,466.69. She was sentenced to 26 weeks imprisonment, suspended for two years.

As part of her sentence Mr Whittingham will have to observe a curfew from 6pm to 6am for seven days a week over the next 26 weeks. In addition, she was ordered to pay the overpaid benefits and £100 prosecution costs.

Councillor Neil Blake, Cabinet Member for Resources, said: “The benefits system is not to be abused and we – as a council – will not rest in our efforts to bring to justice those who commit fraud. It is a crime that hurts other people because the system is meant to be there for those who truly need help in often difficult circumstances. Bringing cases to court is a strong message to others of the consequences if they try to cheat the system.”

Any member of the public who suspects somebody of benefit fraud can telephone AVDC in strict confidence on 01296 585570. Alternatively, call the DWP free phone reporting hotline on 0800 854 440.