Benefit cheat receives suspended prison term

Archived press release

Date Published: 20/07/12

An Aylesbury woman fraudulently obtained almost £36,000 in benefits after she failed to reveal she was being paid a pension, a court heard.

Margaret Lloyd, of Caversham Green, appeared before Aylesbury Magistrates’ Court on 16 July where she admitted two charges of failing to disclose the pension she was receiving.

Mrs Lloyd, aged 47, was given a four month prison sentence for each offence to run concurrently, suspended for one year. She also has to stay at her current address for 12 months.

The case was brought by Aylesbury Vale District Council and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) following a joint investigation.

Interviewed under caution, the defendant admitted failing to disclose the pension on application forms for housing and council tax benefit and income support at various times between February 2000 and October 2011.

As a result, she was overpaid housing benefit of £14,271, council tax benefit of £4,388 and income support of £17,321. The DWP and AVDC will pursue all overpaid benefits.

Councillor John Cartwright, Leader of the Council, said: “Benefit fraud isn’t a victimless crime. When someone claims benefit fraudulently, they’re stealing from every single one of us that pays council tax. That’s why we always take action when we can prove that claimants have broken the law.”

Anyone with information that can help catch a benefit cheat, should call AVDC’s confidential hotline on 01296 585570.

Benefit fraud can also be reported on the council’s website. People do not have to give their name and they can be assured of complete confidentiality at all times.