Benefit fraud

After Rotherham, now Sheffield.

A large proportion of families within Sheffield’s Roma community are being exploited to lie about their children being ill to get higher benefit payments, says the council.

Sheffield Council is working with the Department of Work and Pensioners (DWP) and GPs to increase awareness of “fabricated illnesses”.

Council chiefs say gangs are encouraging parents to not only commit fraud but also exploit children.

A council report says:

There is work with partners to ensure an appropriate response to the exploitation of Roma families. It has been noted that there is a large proportion of families within the Roma community who are being exploited to fabricate illnesses within their children to obtain higher benefit payments. This has resulted in greater links with the DWP and the safeguarding GP, who has increased awareness of the health policy around fabricated illness. This allows partners to refer to the GP under the protocol to ensure a more appropriate response to the issue to try to reduce instances of fabricated illness in children within the Roma community.

Coun Jim Steinke, cabinet member for neighbourhoods and community safety, said it was unclear how widespread the problem was.

We are concerned about gangs working with parents to encourage them to defraud the DWP and our officers are really clamping down on this illegal activity. The fraud is bad enough but there is also serious exploitation of children. There seems to be a variety of illnesses and we are working with schools as we rely on their judgement when parents tell them their child is ill.

The council’s Multi Agency Support Teams (MAST) struggled to work with Roma families because of the fraud.

The report adds:

MAST have been engaging with partners to address this as many of the referrals into the service were as a result of this issue, which prevented effective work on other issues that the families were facing.

The DWP said it did not comment on ongoing fraud operations but says it works closely with local authorities as a matter of course to tackle benefit fraud in all its forms.

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I wonder how much this organised benefit fraud is costing us...?

A benefits cheat who dishonestly claimed around £7,000 in disability and housing payments was caught out after clocking up 10,000 steps on a a Fitbit. (h/t Dave)

Helen May admitted she dishonestly failed to tell authorities she had a job while claiming thousands of pounds in housing benefit in 2016.

Appearing in the dock at South Cumbria Magistrates Court, the 39-year-old also admitted failing to disclose an improvement in her physical capacities, between 2014 and 2017, which would have directly affected her disability allowance.

The court was told May, from Ulverston, failed to notify South Lakeland District Council she had got a job while she was claiming housing benefit as well as failing to tell the Department for Work and Pensions her physical condition had improved.

The court heard May was unable to work because of depression and a heart problem she had suffered from since the age of 10, which gave her palpitations and meant she tired easily and had a pacemaker.

Magistrates heard while she had been claiming benefits she had worked three jobs: at the Lakes Aquarium at Lakeside, the Yewdale Inn at Coniston and at Weightwatchers. Defending her, Tristan Roberts said the cafe work she did was only serving and tea coffee, was not physically exerting and was only carried out by her for a few hours a day.

Peter Barnsley, prosecuting, told the court that a witness had seen May log 10,000 steps on her Fitbit fitness tracker during a day at work.

Magistrates were told May had already paid back some of the benefits she had illegally claimed. Mr Roberts said: “She is a lady who has not troubled authorities before and is not likely to trouble them again.”

In sentencing, magistrates ruled out unpaid work after being told May would have been too ill to do it.

They imposed a community order with the requirement that May will wear an electronic tag under a 10-week curfew stopping from leaving her home between 7pm and 7am. She was also ordered to pay £400 in court costs.

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A mum-of-five who wrongly claimed more than £36,500 in benefits has been made a prisoner in her own home at night under a court curfew.

Julie Keightley, 37, admitted seven charges of fraud - claiming five types of benefits over almost four years.

"In total she fraudulently claimed £36,579.39," prosecutor Paul Abrahams told Teesside Crown Court.

She claimed jobseeker's allowance, employment support allowance, income support, housing benefit and council tax benefit between February 2013 and June 2017.

Systematic. She knew what she was about.

The Tesco worker claimed she was single and had broken up with her husband, to whom she had been married since 2002.

"She said they'd separated in 2012 and he had lived in a camper van at his mum and dad's," said Mr Abrahams. "In fact they'd never split apart formally. The Crown cannot say whether there'd been some turmoil in the relationship.

"What we can say is there had been no break in continuity in the family finances, so from start to finish she wouldn't have been entitled to the amount. As to what she would have been entitled to, we can't say. The calculation hasn't been done."

The £36,579 overpayment included £25,050 in housing benefit, the court was told.

Keightley, from Roseworth, Stockton , admitted seven counts of fraud by failing to disclose to the Department for Work and Pensions and Stockton Council that she was living with her husband to gain benefits.

Jennifer Coxon, defending, said Keightley had no previous convictions, was "petrified" of the court case outcome, distressed at what she did and just wanted to pay the money back.

Ms Coxon said: "She holds her hands up whole-heartedly and accepts that she's certainly be in the wrong. She appreciates the jeopardy that she's put her liberty at, and essentially her family who rely upon her as a mother. That is something that really upsets her. She's extremely remorseful for that. There would be no suggestion of a lavish lifestyle."

She said Keightley and her husband had periods of separation, but there "wasn't a clear definition" in their financial situation and he helped her out with money.

Keightley stopped claiming benefits when she and her husband permanently reconciled, "and she told the DWP that".

"Her husband has a very good job. At the minute she's not entitled to anything," added Ms Coxon. They reside together now as a couple and he's essentially helping her to pay back that money."

She said Keightley and her husband had five children together, aged three to 18, and her mother also needed help.

Keightley had difficulties like anxiety, depression and possible sight loss and her husband had his own ailments, added Ms Coxon.

Judge Sean Morris told Keightley: "You pilfered about £36,000 of taxpayers' money that should have gone to people who were more needy than you. And it's a shameful thing to do.

"They will get their money back. For the rest of your adult life, working life, they will be taking that money off you bit by bit."

Referring to Keightley's children, he said: "That's not an automatic get-out-of-jail-free card.

"I can quite easily send you down the stairs now and your three-year-old can be running around the house asking where mum is, and that'll be your fault.

"I'm going to incarcerate you in your own house, so you can carry on working, and so that the state doesn't have to pick up the bill for looking after your children."

Keightley was given a 10-month prison sentence suspended for 18 months with a six-month tagged curfew.

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A mother has been jailed for a £34,000 benefit fraud – as a sheriff blasted her husband for his part in landing her in the dock.

Emma Tanner was locked up for a year after she admitted defrauding £34,111 in a “deliberate” scam.

But a sheriff blasted her husband Christopher – saying he was “to some extent responsible” for landing her in the dock.

Tanner broke down in the dock as she was handcuffed and led to the cells.

Dundee Sheriff Court heard she was living with her husband – but hid that from benefit bosses, claiming she was a single mum.

But in reality she was living “on-off” with husband Christopher, allowing her to rake in income support, child tax credit, housing benefit and council tax benefit.

Tanner, 31, from Broughty Ferry, Dundee, pleaded guilty on indictment to two charges under the Social Security Adminstration Act and one under the Tax Credits Act.

Defence solicitor David Duncan said: “There aren’t any other aggravating factors that the court often sees. She has no prior offending. She would have been entitled to some form of benefit at the time. There is no lavish lifestyle and the finances are still strained for the family.

“Your lordship can step away from custody to the maximum available community sentence.”

Sheriff Tom Hughes jailed Tanner for a year.

He said: “There are factors on each side I have to take into account. This happened over a considerable period of time. It also appears to be the case that during that time you were having an on-off relationship with your husband

“It is quite clearly a case he has left you in this position. He is actually to some extent responsible for getting you in to the situation you find yourself in. He can take no pride in his behaviour. Unfortunately you are left to carry the consequences.”

However, he added: “You made a deliberate calculation in taking the benefit when you well knew you were not entitled to it. The sum involved was over £34,000 of public funds to which you were not entitled.”

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A Derby woman who claimed thousands of pounds worth of housing benefit despite having huge savings now has an anxious wait to find out her fate.

Marcia Oliver pleaded guilty to two charges of fraud when she appeared at Southern Derbyshire Magistrates Court.

Magistrates heard how the 47-year-old claimed more than £11,500 in housing benefit from Derby City Council between June 9, 2016 and June 4, 2018.

Oliver also claimed almost £8,000 in additional DWP benefits between March 14, 2016, and April 12, 2018. She was receiving jobseeker’s allowance.

The court heard how she had been claiming all the cash while she had savings of more than £16,000, higher than the permitted limit in bank accounts, which she failed to declare.

Now Oliver must wait to find out how she will be punished as magistrates adjourned the case for a pre-sentence report to be drafted.

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A woman suffering from poor health claimed more than £10,000 she was not entitled to when her condition improved.

Sami Farooq's claim for Disability Living Allowance was legitimate from the outset.

But when the 50-year-old's health improved and she gained employment working with a firm of woollen spinners she failed to tell anyone.

She pleaded guilty to dishonestly failing to notify the Department for Work and Pensions a change of circumstances affecting her entitlement to a benefit.

Farooq, from Crosland Moor, committed the offence between January and October, 2014.

Alex Bozman, prosecuting, said that she became well enough to take up employment with the company for a period of nine months during that year.

He told Kirklees magistrates : “As a consequence she obtained benefits to the value of £10,532 which she was not entitled to. The prosecution accepts that she was originally entitled to the benefits. But when she obtained work with the woollen spinners she accepts she should have notified the appropriate departments of this work. She said that she didn't think it was dishonest.”

Magistrates were told that Farooq has been out of trouble for almost a decade. The last offences on her record were shoplifting matters dating back 10 years.

The Huddersfield court heard that the overpaid cash is now being repaid to the DWP.

Andrew Stewardson, mitigating, said: “It's not a claim which was fraudulent from the outset – she has had some health troubles. She is now on benefits and not currently working.”

Magistrates described the offence as 'serious' and sentenced Farooq to an 18 week curfew. This will run between the hours of 7pm and 7am and be electronically monitored.

She must pay £85 court costs and £85 victim surcharge.

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Seven benefit assessors have now been sentenced to prison for a total of 17 years for their roles in housing benefit fraud which saw more than £1m stolen from three councils in London.

The assessors worked in the local authorities of Lambeth, Kingston, and Barking and Dagenham, creating false housing benefit claims over a period of six years and sending the funds to accounts they controlled.

Lambeth employee Menelik Cowan, one of the driving forces of the fraud, and six others, denied fraud but were convicted by a jury after a three-month trial at Southwark Crown Court.

Cowan was sentenced to six-and-a-half years’ imprisonment. He had diverted £293,147 from his employers over six years. Others received between three-and-a-half years' imprisonment and 18 months.

The gang would identify properties, collect details for false claims and create appointments for the fraudsters at the council.

They also approved false claims and used their systems to ensure council letters, which might have revealed their fraud, were not sent to the properties.

Money was sent into accounts controlled by money launderers who left the country before they could be charged.

The Crown Prosecution Service worked closely with investigators from the Department for Work and Pensions Serious and Organised Investigation Team to bring the prosecution.

Ben Reid, of the CPS, said: “These council-employed assessors were trusted to look after badly needed public money meant to help people find somewhere to live. Instead they corrupted the systems and sent over one million pounds to money launderers in the criminal underground.

“During their trial they said they had no idea the claims were false and that they were simply processing papers given to them by their managers. However, the CPS prosecution showed the jury messages between them and their co-conspirators planning the whole thing.

“They have now been convicted by the jury and these public funds are safely out of their hands.”

A timetable for proceeds of crime hearings will now be set out where the CPS will seek to recover any outstanding assets.

It's all so slow.

Menelik Cowan pleaded guilty to one offence of fraud by abuse of positon and one offence of possession of false identity documents with intent. He was then convicted of five further offences of fraud by abuse of position after trial. The value of his offending is £293,147. He was imprisoned for six-and-a-half years.

Hugh Small pleaded guilty to one offence of entering into or being concerned in a money laundering arrangement. He was then convicted of one further offence of fraud by abuse of position after trial. The value of his offending is £112,983. He was imprisoned for three-and-a-half years.

Rahel Asfaha was convicted after trial of eight offences of fraud by abuse of position, worth £181,872. Imprisoned for two-and-a-half years.

Alex Williams was convicted after trial of one offence of fraud by abuse of position worth £240,345. Imprisoned for three-and-a-half years.

Cassandra Johnson was convicted after trial of three offences of fraud by abuse of position worth £106,834. Imprisoned for 18 months.

Jessica Bartley was convicted after trial of one offence of fraud by abuse of position worth £71,600. Imprisoned for 18 months, suspended for 18 months, and given 200 hours unpaid work.

Natasha Francis was convicted after trial of one offence of entering into or being concerned in a money laundering arrangement worth £2,868. 18-month community order, and 200 hours unpaid work.

Donna Francis was convicted after trial of one offence of entering into or being concerned in a money laundering arrangement worth £8,323.43. 12-month community order.

Derrick Williams was convicted after trial of two offences of entering into or being concerned in a money laundering arrangement worth £14,168.03. Imprisoned for 15 months, suspended for 18 months.

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A pub landlord who cost local taxpayers almost £250,000 by subletting his council house has been jailed for two years.

John Bristow had a property provided by the borough for more than 12 years even though he was living and working at The Bakers Arms in Upper Stratton.

As well as depriving a needy family of a home – costing taxpayers £219,000 – the 66-year-old even let it out, making profit on the rent.

And he told the woman to whom he was subletting to lie to the council about why she was living there and not to register her name and address with them for anything.

When he was questioned he said he had kept hold of the Penhill house for his retirement, or in case his relationship or pub tenancy collapsed.

Harry Ahuja, prosecuting, told how Bristow was given an temporary tenancy at a house on Abbey View Road, Moredon, from August 2003 to November 2005.

He was then given a secure tenancy for a two-bed house on Imber Road, Penhill, but by then he was living at a pub. In March 2005 he and partner Kathy Kelly got the tenancy of The Bakers Arms on Beechcroft Road, where they still live. But he kept the house until the council took it back in October 2017 after an investigation.

And it was discovered that in 2011 he had sublet the house to a woman charging her £100 a week while he was paying the council £60, raising to £80 a week. Over the six-year period it could be proved he had a tenant in the house Mr Ahuja said he had made a profit of £3,699.

The court was told that it could not be established whether he had anyone else living there before her.

When he was questioned by the council he initially claimed he had been living at the two homes with his sons, even though his partner told investigators otherwise.

As a result of the extra inquiries he said the costs to the council of the case totalled £20,148, making the total loss to them nearly £240k.

Bristow pleaded guilty to charges of fraud and deception between April 1, 2005, and May 30, 2017.

Susan Cavendar, defending, said the offences were caused by him trying to seek stability for his family. After his marriage collapsed in the early noughties he wanted a home for him and his children and was never sure how long the pub job would last. “He thought if he held on to it if he would retire there or the job would end and the tenancy go,” she said.

Jailing him Judge Robert Pawson said “This country is going through a period of almost unprecedented austerity. In housing terms it doesn’t have property to hand over to someone like you to profit from. The waiting list at the start was 15,000 people, the waiting list at the end was 3,000 people.

“As a result people on the emergency housing list have had to be housed by the council at a conservative estimate that costs a little more than £18,000 per annum. And that loss of money, and it is a loss of money has to be made up by council tax payers in the Swindon area.

“It comes down to your dishonesty and your selfishness. You are remorseful. This went on for 12 years. You were only sorry when you were caught.”

Swindon Borough Council has welcomed the outcome of the jailing of Bristow.

Councillor Cathy Martyn, cabinet member for housing and public safety, said: “I hope it sends out a strong warning that this sort of behaviour will not be tolerated.

“The welfare of our tenants is a top priority for us. We will not allow people to take advantage and abuse the system in this way. Mr Bristow’s actions cost the council almost a quarter of a million pounds and he took advantage of other people who were in actual need of a home by denying them that opportunity, preventing them from accessing housing to which they were entitled.

“We work closely with the police and I can say with confidence that people engaging in fraudulent activity will always be caught in the end.”

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A benefits cheat who illegally claimed more than £8,000 while he was working said his offences were the result of financial pressure. (h/t Dave)

At Carlisle’s Rickergate magistrates’ court, Alistair Lee Bradshaw, 46, admitted two charges of failing to notify the relevant authorities that his financial circumstances had changed.

Pam Ward, prosecuting, said the offences arose from the defendant’s claims for housing benefit and employment support allowance. He claimed the benefits dishonestly between April 2017 and January 2018.

The prosecutor said the offences came to light when it was confirmed that the defendant was claiming benefits while working for clothing firm Hugo Boss. He should have notified Carlisle City Council and the Department for Work & Pensions but failed to.

His criminal record included a theft by an employee in 2011, as well as an offence under the Fraud Act in 2015, and disqualified driving. The amount of employment support allowance overpaid came to £5,057, while the over-payment of housing benefit was £3,027.

Rachel Dixon, for Bradshaw, from Great Orton, Carlisle, said: “When I asked him why he did this, he said he was motivated by financial pressure. At the time, he wanted the extra money from employment support allowance and housing benefit.”

The defendant was trying to keep up maintenance payments to his former partner for their child, she said. Miss Dixon said his relationship with his former partner was fractious. She said: “He is currently not working and that has been the situation since January. He’s in dire financial straits.

“He lives in a Riverside property and is not living a lavish lifestyle.” The money is being paid back - at a rate of £67 per month.”

Magistrates imposed a nine week 7pm to 7am curfew, with £85 costs and an £85 victim surcharge.

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A benefit cheat gran has been hauled before the courts for pocketing handouts after failing to declare she owned a house.

For years, Marion Pearson got housing benefit and council tax benefit she was not entitled to, as the owner of a property which ended up being worth £230,000.

A court heard the 77-year-old received an overpayment of just less than £30,000.

Now Pearson, from Newcastle, has been given a suspended prison sentence at Newcastle Crown Court.

The court heard Pearson had started claiming the handouts in 2006 after arriving in the North East from Essex after fleeing an abusive relationship.

Someone else filled the forms in for her and the section about assets was left blank - and the authorities did not review the position until 2017.

The claim for housing benefit was dishonest between 2006 and 2017 and for council tax benefit from 2006 until 2013.

Liam O'Brien, prosecuting, said: "The dishonesty was when she completed the review paperwork she dishonestly failed to declare she owned a property in Harlow, Essex. At the time it was worth £130,000 but at the end of the period it was worth at least £230,000. What is clear is that at the end of the period she had equity of about £100,000 available to her in that property."

The court heard the house has been occupied by her daughter throughout the period.

Pearson, who has six previous convictions for dishonesty, the last of which was in 1993, admitted dishonestly claiming benefits.

She was sentenced to four months suspended for 12 months.

Judge Robert Spragg told her: "You admitted owning the property and explained your daughter lived there and was paying the mortgage and would inherit it when you died. You felt sorry for your daughter. You have tried to get back that property and there have been some civil proceedings. Now you are having to pay rent and council tax, you are in financial difficulties and need to get the money from that property."

Jonathan Cousins, defending, said Pearson had been unable to secure the property to sell due to "technicalities she didn't comply with" and she has instructed solicitors to help.

He added: "She issued a notice to quit the property to her daughter which expires today and she waits to see what her daughter will do."

Mr Cousins said Pearson came to the North East to flee an abusive relationship and initially spent time in a refuge. While there, the initial form to claim benefits was filled out by someone else, who did not complete the section about assets.

He added: "The likelihood is she was simply not asked those questions by the housing officer who completed the form. When the form was then completed, the existence of the property was not disclosed and there were no other forms after that until 2017."

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A benefit cheat fiddled nearly £30,000 in much-needed public money after keeping quiet that her husband was living with her and supporting her.

She later came clean about abusing the system and was repaying £400 a month, a court heard.

Jackie Sawyer, 33, from Crowle, admitted two offences of failing to notify a change in her circumstances and another of being concerned in fraudulently obtaining tax credits.

Nigel Clive, prosecuting, told Grimsby Crown Court that Sawyer wrongly claimed Income Support, housing benefit and child support for 104 weeks over a period of about two years between 2014 and 2017.

She falsely obtained £29,838 by saying that she was a single parent living alone when, in reality, her husband was living there and was supporting her.

The claim was not, however, fraudulent from the outset.

"There is no evidence that this defendant is living an extravagant lifestyle," said Mr Clive.

Siward James-Moore, mitigating, said that Sawyer carried out the fraud after she stopped work for the first time in her life following difficulties.

She had no previous convictions and "came clean" by making admissions and had been repaying £400 a month since March last year.

She had six-year-old twin boys and was a carer for her father.

Judge John Thackray QC told Sawyer: "You have committed serious offences. That's much-needed public money and you have abused the system."

Sawyer was given a four-month suspended prison sentence, 100 hours' unpaid work and 15 days' rehabilitation.

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A woman was taking several holidays a year to the Canaries while claiming tens of thousands of pounds in benefits she was not entitled to, a court has heard. (h/t Tenancy Fraud)

For almost six years Helen Jayne Williams claimed benefits as a single woman - despite being married, living with her husband, having a joint bank account, and going on exotic holidays with her husband.

Swansea Crown Court heard that when the authorities eventually caught up with her, she claimed to be in a abusive and controlling relationship - claims which were investigated and found to be groundless.

The 52-year-old is repaying the money she wrongly claimed at £103 per month, a rate which means it will be more than 50 years before all the cash is recouped.

Tom Scapens, prosecuting, said Helen Morgan - as she was then - initially made legitimate claims for income support, housing benefit, and council tax benefit in 2002 on the basis she was was single, had no savings, and was unable to work.

She married David Williams in May 2010 but did not notify the authorities of the change of circumstances - something the court heard all claimants are required to do.

The following year Mr Williams began working.

Mr Scapens said each year the defendant was sent a reminder that she should update the authorities as to any changes which may affect her benefit claims - something she did not do.

The court heard while Williams was still claiming single person's benefits she was in fact living with her husband in the Brynhyfryd area of Swansea , the couple were using joint bank accounts, and would holiday together in the Canary Islands "several times a year".

By the time the scam came to light in February 2017 Williams had claimed a total of £66,701.66 in benefits to which she was not entitled.

The prosecutor said during her subsequent interviews the defendant initially told investigators Mr Williams was only living at the address a couple a nights a week in his role as a carer, before claiming in a defence statement that she was in fact the victim of domestic abuse and her partner was controlling her.

Williams had previously pleaded guilty to three counts of failing to notify a change of circumstances and one count of fraud when she appeared in the dock for sentencing.

She has no previous convictions.

Stephen Thomas, for Williams, said the defendant suffered from "significant health issues", and was also a carer for her parents.

He said Williams was "throughly ashamed of herself", and had brought shame on her family.

The advocate described the prosecution as a "salutary lesson" for the defendant.

READ MORE
Solicitor stole almost £1m from families and friends of dead clients

Judge Peter Heywood said £66,000 was a significant amount of money to take at a time when the public purse was under pressure.

He told Williams she was guilty of "deliberate fraudulent activity" and the only real question before him was whether he should send her straight to prison or suspend any term on custody.

The judge said given the poor state of the defendant's health, and her role as a carer for her ill parents, he was prepared to pass a suspended sentence - though he said he did so "with a degree of hesitation".

For each of the four offences Williams was sentenced to nine months in prison, all the sentences to run concurrently with one another and suspended for two years.

Williams will continue to repay money she owes at the rate of £103 per month.

She stole £66,000 over several years. Has she been punished at all?

I didn't know Big Brother had 'stars' ... seems I'm just out of touch.

THE sister of a reality TV star was spared jail after a court heard she funded her celebrity lifestyle with £21,000 in illegal benefits.

Lauryn Goodman, sister of Celebrity Big Brother star Chloe, wept in the dock as details of her benefit fraud were read out.

The 28-year-old spent thousands on trips to Las Vegas and skiing in France with her sister. The reality TV star was said to have been mortified when she found out.

Hove Trial Centre heard she was now trying to return to paid work with HSBC bank. (!)

Goodman, from Portslade, was handed a seven-month prison sentence, suspended for two years. She will also have to do 200 hours’ unpaid work and pay £670 costs after the court heard she had already paid back all the money she claimed in benefits.

Prosecuting, Pierce Power said the seven offences had been committed between December 2013 and August 2016. Goodman claimed disability benefit and housing benefit totalling £21,007. She admitted the charges at an earlier hearing.

Mr Power said: “Ms Goodman failed to declare income of £370 a month from an insurance policy. She also had a joint mortgage with her mother on a house in Portslade.” The court heard she did not think the insurance money was income.

And she claimed she did not have access to several bank accounts which belonged to her grandmother and father.

She also had more than £16,000 in the bank.

The housing benefit was claimed on a flat in Brighton where she was the tenant but never paid any rent.

Mr Power said she used £3,500 to buy airline tickets to Las Vegas on a trip with sister Chloe. Money was also use to hire ski equipment on another holiday with her sister at Les Arcs in France.

Sally Mertens for Goodman said her client was in an ongoing battle with depression.

She said: “There is an inability to face the music as a result of telling lies and behaving dishonestly. She is very, very sorry for her conduct. Her sister, Chloe Goodman, who sits in the public gallery, was mortified to consider her conduct has exacerbated the situation. Ms Goodman has lost her good character. She is well educated and has had many opportunities.”

His Honour Judge David Rennie told Goodman the offending went on for some time but was essentially out of character.

“This is not who you are,” he said. “You have made some catastrophically bad decisions. But that is never an excuse for what is essentially stealing public money.”

Goodman made no comment as she walked free from court.

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A mum who claimed she needed a wheelchair claimed £20,000 in disability benefits was pictured doing the splits - while training for kickboxing tournaments.

Tammy Horton,31, claimed her chronic pelvic disease and fibromyalgia meant she could barely walk with sticks.

She said she was stuck in her pyjamas all day because it was too painful to get dressed and could not even collect her own prescriptions.

But the mum posted pictures of her in a gym while she trained daily with two local kickboxing clubs.

She regularly appeared in her local paper after winning medals in bouts - and even posted pictures of her out clubbing with pals on a hen-do.

DWP officers were tipped off and began investigating the fighter, who was claiming disability living allowance and Personal Independent Payment (PIP).

During a two-year period they found she competed in the 2016 CIMAC British Open, at Windsor, and Northamptonshire Open tournament.

She won a silver medal at a tournament in Solihull in January 2017 competing for the Boston Evolution Martial Arts Club.

The following month she was a runner-up in her category at an international event held at Watford. She also competed for a Spilsby club.

Lisa Hardy, prosecuting, told Lincoln crown court “She claimed disability living allowance and subsequently PIPs over a three year period. She said she had serious and chronic conditions. She said she was limited to walking with crutches or using a wheelchair and that she was on morphine to control the pain.”

Miss Hardy said that back in October 2014 the DWP received a complaint that Horton’s benefit claim was fictitious but at the time she told investigators that the complaint was malicious.

She said: “In February 2015 she made a claim for PIP. A health assessor came out to see her and she confirmed the extent of her illness. She completed a lengthy application process and in interview she had such severe pelvic inflammatory disease that it affected her mobility.

“She said she was in constant pain every day. She said she did her food shopping online or sometimes would do click and collect."

She said her husband would collect her prescription. She told how she would live in her pyjamas for the majority of the day because it was too painful to get dressed, Lincoln crown court heard.

“She said she didn’t like going out because she was too anxious. She said she would struggle to walk more than 20 metres. She was asked to perform a number of physical tasks which she said she could not complete. As a result she was awarded PIP.

“An investigation subsequently showed that Miss Horton as far back as January 2014 had in fact joined a kickboxing club and was a regular member. She received grading certificates and competed in competitions. This was a lady who expressed that she needed an extra banister fitted just to be able to get up and down stairs.

“She was placed under surveillance. That showed her driving to drop off her children at school and shopping. She was seen walking independently without support.

“She was brought in for interview but denied claiming any benefits dishonestly. She said her pain varied but was always there. She said she had attended kickboxing clubs in Spilsby and Boston saying that it gave her mental focus.

“This was a deliberate misrepresentation given to the health assessor. The answers were very detailed. They were backed up in interview verbally and on paper.”

In total she received benefits totalling £21,928 to which she was not entitled.

Judge Andrew Easteal, passing sentence, accused her of "extraordinary arrogance" and "deceit," adding: "This was a planned, detailed, gross deception that went on for several years. It was just inexcusable.”

Horton, from Stickney, Lincs, admitted charges of failing to notify the DWP of a change in circumstance between 5 February 2014 and 25 March 2015.

She also admitted making a false statement to obtain PIP between 25 March 2015 and 10 May 2017. She was given a 10 month jail sentence suspended for two years.

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So no real punishment.

A lottery winner scooped a £300,000 jackpot – but kept on claiming benefit payments despite no longer being entitled to them. (h/t Dave)

Lesley Thomas, 49, bagged the massive windfall but failed to tell the authorities and kept claiming housing benefit and employment and support allowance.

Merthyr Tydfil Magistrates’ Court on Monday heard the total overpayment was in excess of £17,988.

Prosecutor Monique McKevitt said: “[Ms Thomas] received a sum of £300,000 as a lottery win from Camelot UK.

“Ms Thomas was interviewed on March 15 last year. She admitted that she had claimed the fraudulent funds. The payment has been paid back in full.”

Thomas pleaded guilty to failing to inform Merthyr Tydfil council of her change of circumstances relating to the housing benefit she was receiving between April 2015 and November 2015.

She also pleaded guilty to failing to inform the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) about her change of circumstances between April 2015 and February 2018, which would have affected her entitlement to Employment and Support Allowance.

A probation report said Ms Thomas has shown “deep remorse for her actions”.

The court was also told Ms Thomas, from Merthyr Tydfil , lives alone with no children or partner.

She was said to have numerous health complaints that require the ongoing support of carers on a daily basis, especially to help her carry out daily chores.

Kim Treloar, mitigating, said: “This case goes back some years now.”

Discussing the lottery win she added: “She gave some money to her niece to assist her. She gave some money to her relatives.

“She suffered with depression, anxiety, and many physical issues. She has fully accepted that she’s done wrong.”

Bench chair Mary Morris said the magistrates “took a long time” to consider the sentence they would impose.

They handed Thomas a 26-week prison sentence suspended for 12 months.

She was also ordered to pay £200 in costs and was handed a 12-week tagged curfew.

Mrs Morris said: “[The offence] was over a long period of time and we did find that it was a deliberate act.”

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A 43-year-old woman claimed more than £3,500 in benefits she was not entitled to by failing to declare she had a job, a court has heard. (h/t Dave)

Parveen Akhtar admitted two charges of making a false statement to obtain benefits from the Department of Work and Pensions when she appeared before Cannock Magistrates' Court.

The first charge relates to March 10, 2016, when Akhtar, from Burton, claimed Carers' Allowance to the value of £3,730.80 for caring for her nephew. She did this without declaring she had employment at a rest home where she worked as a carer.

The second offence was on November 11, 2017, when she applied for Employment and Support Allowance for the Department of Work and Pensions. On the application she failed to declare she had an interest in four properties.

Chris Coughlan, prosecuting, said: "This is fraud from the public purse.

"On the form it asks if she had interests in any other properties apart from the home she lives in. She ticked the no box and it was a lie as she has a beneficial interest in four properties."

He added that Akhtar was subject to a suspended sentence for a similar offence and he requested a confiscation order for the money that was owed.

Simon Dean, defending Akhtar, told the court: "Ms Akhtar has been the victim of horrendous domestic abuse which is behind all the matters she has faced before the court that she addresses this morning."

Akhtar will be sentenced by a judge at Stafford Crown Court when more detail will be given about the domestic abuse she has suffered.

The date has not yet been set for the hearing but she answers unconditional bail until the next court date.

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A man caught subletting his council home in Lewisham while working in Birmingham as a solicitor has had his criminal sentence upheld after a failed appeal. (h/t Cornerstone)

Rahand Raza, 39, appealed the 12-week sentence, which was suspended for two years, after he was prosecuted in Bexley Magistrates' Court in May of last year.

He was living in Birmingham when he spent over three years illegally subletting his council home.

Kevin Sheehan, executive director of customer services, said: "Social housing is vital for those people who are in genuine housing need and we will always prosecute those who try to cheat the system."

The judge handed him a suspended jail sentence under the Prevention of Social Housing Act and Mr Raza was ordered to pay legal costs of £5,000.

He also had to pay back his profits of £3,496.

Lewisham Home’s Tenancy Audit Team became aware of the subletting allegations when people were seen moving out of the home.

It was later found that Mr Raza applied for the "right to buy" scheme while others lived in the flat.

The Solicitors Regulation Authority has been made aware of the conviction.

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A benefit cheat fiddled more than £13,800 in wrongful tax credits by keeping quiet that a child was in care. (h/t Dave)

She could not manage her money properly at the time and claimed the care was only temporary, a court heard.

Clare Bilton, 41, from Scunthorpe, admitted failing to disclose information to the tax authorities between April 2013 and April last year.

Martin Howarth, prosecuting, told Grimsby magistrates that mother-of-four Bilton failed to disclose that one of the children had been taken into the care of social services in October 2010.

She wrongly obtained £13,819 in tax credits for that child.

"She was fully aware that she should have reported a change in her circumstances," said Mr Howarth.

Excuses she gave included that she had forgotten, thought that the care was supposed to be temporary and financial reasons.

"She had never written to or telephoned the department to report the change in circumstances," said Mr Howarth.

Sunny Dhinsa, mitigating, said that Bilton made admissions during interview and had no previous convictions. "She is extremely remorseful," he added.

Bilton was given eight days' rehabilitation and was ordered to pay £100 costs and a Government-imposed £85 victims' surcharge.

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A Henleaze man ripped off benefit money from the government department he used to work for. (h/t Dave)

Robert Lyne was formerly employed by the Department of Work and Pensions, Bristol Crown Court was told.

But he pocketed just under £37,000 in fraudulent payouts by failing to reveal he had nearly £100,000 stashed in the bank.

Lyne, 63, pleaded guilty to making dishonest representations to obtain benefit, between October 2012 and March last year.

The Recorder of Bristol His Honour Judge Peter Blair QC handed him a 24-week prison sentence, suspended for 18 months.

The judge told him: "You dishonestly obtained social security benefits. It should be 36 weeks prison.

"But you are aged 63, you are completely clean of previous convictions and you have an exemplary background of employment. You have repaid nearly £37,000 of Employment Support Allowance."

Lyne was fined £1,000 and told to pay court costs of £360 and a victim surcharge of £115.

Gregory Gordon, prosecuting, said between October 2012 and March 2018 Lyne claimed £36, 915.20 in Employment Support Allowance, declaring he was unable to work and had £350.11 in savings.

Mr Gregory said: "He actually had substantial savings. At the start he had £94,988.90. The threshold for the claim is £16,000."

Lyne admitted his guilt in interview and apologised.

He said during the period of the claims he was looking after his father and had suffered family bereavements and mental health issues.

Lyne also produced a letter to the DWP, in which he said had savings, which was not received.

Nicholas Fridd, defending, said: "He is a man of good character. His offending simply makes no sense. There was no financial motive. He repaid all the money. He does not appear to have been thinking straight."

Mr Fridd said his client had previously worked for government departments, including the DWP, and had led an "exemplary" lifestyle.

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Another community conspiring on benefit fraud

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Woman said she was single, got £36.5k in benefit fraud

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£1m benefit fraud gang finally sentenced

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Benefit cheat claimed nearly £30k in benefits

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Light sentence for deliberate benefit fraud

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Burton benefits cheat had four houses

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Benefit cheat pocketed £13k for a child she didn't look after

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