Stiff Sentence - suspended -  for Cheating at benefits - £10,000 out of pocket as well!
 

Earlier this year, a man appeared at Guildford Crown Court on charges of fiddling Waverley Borough council out of nearly £32,000 in wrongly claimed Benefits and Allowances.

The result was a suspended sentence of 51 weeks, one hundred of unpaid community work, paying back £31,700 in wrongly claimed benefits and a hefty £10,000 in compensation to Waverley Borough Council. (Presumably, the council department that didn't notice the fraud for a number of years, got a smack on the wrist - if that!

The fraud was made up of £28,000+ in housing benefit, and a further £3,000+ in council tax benefits.

Basically, the man claimed the benefits whilst he was also self-employed - and at times received money from his wife's massage parlour business! (A case of massaging the figures perhaps!)

Four charges of making false statements, and one of failing to notify were the result, leading him to be around £10,000 worse off at the end of the day, and having a suspended sentence, and a bit of work for 100 hours!

Councillor Mr Band (Cons) said that the council are very serious about detecting fraud and bringing cases to court - with a 100% rate of successful prosecutions.  He added that the council would be pleased to discuss financial problems with people in receipt of benefits, so that a suitable conclusion can be reached!

At the same time, resident can feel confident about anonymous phone calls to the council about anyone they suspect of fiddling the benefits system.  (0800 328 6340)

Just remember that whilst many get away with a bit of fiddling, right down from the hard up mum to the top end businessman, some get caught, so it ain't worth the risk. And in any event, it is cheating!