2 Guilty Of Benefit Fraud Totalling £12,000

It was a busy day at Yeovil Magistrates Court on Friday (8th April) as three cases of benefit fraud were heard in one day - all brought by the district council.

David Walsh (48) of Princes Street, Yeovil, pleaded guilty to charges of benefit fraud. Data matching showed that he and his wife had been receiving Working Tax Credits from March 2009, which had not been declared as part of their Housing Benefit and Council Tax benefit claim, causing an overpayment of over £2,300.

Gareth Webb, defending, said that his client had previously lived abroad but had returned to UK and had ended up in debt, using their credit cards to live on.

Mr Walsh accepted full responsibility for the overpayment. Magistrates said that they believed his actions were a deliberate attack on the public purse and sentenced him to a six month Community order, which imposed a curfew between 7pm and 7am. He was also tagged for 60 days and costs were not awarded.

Lorraine Rydon (32) of Southview, Barwick, also pleaded guilty to charges of benefit fraud. Data matching showed that Mrs Rydon’s husband had returned to work in November 2007 but the Council had not been informed, which caused a benefit overpayment of over £9,750.

Gareth Webb also defended Mrs Rydon. He informed the Magistrates that his client’s claim had been correct at the start but had later become dishonest and the money that was falsely claimed was used to pay off debts.

The Magistrates ordered this case to be adjourned until 13 May 2011 to allow pre-sentencing reports to be undertaken.

Yeovil Magistrates also issued a warrant without bail for the arrest of Tina Sully (45) formerly of Ken Close, Chard, now of Tower Hill Road, Crewkerne. Mrs Sully had failed to appear to answer charges of benefit fraud of over £7000 for failing to inform the Council that her partner had started work.

Lynda Creek, Fraud & Data Manager said: ‘This is a good start to the new financial year. Benefit fraud is not a victimless crime; it affects everyone within the district who pays Council Tax as well as Income Tax.

"It is important that the Council does everything it can to prevent and recover overpaid benefit and my team, together with Council Litigators, will do everything they can to support this aim."

Photo: J D Mack, flickr