05 July 2009A Hartley benefit cheat who tried to swindle tax payers out of nearly £2,500 has been successfully prosecuted by Sevenoaks District Council following a tip-off from the public.
Thirty-nine year old Miss Deborah Webb of Caxton Close, Hartley pleaded guilty to illegally claiming £2,494.01 in benefit over a period of almost three-years at Sevenoaks Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday 25 July 2007.
Sevenoaks District Council’s Benefit Fraud & Control Section carried out an investigation into Miss Webb’s benefit claims after an anonymous tip-off alleged that she was working full-time but not declaring her earnings to the Council.
Evidence collated by the Council demonstrated that Miss Webb had been working since March 2004. During this time she had supplied the Council with three false benefit forms and given false information on two review visits.
As a result of these actions Miss Webb received £1,839.51 in Housing Benefit and £654.50 in Council Tax Benefit that she was not entitled to.
At court, Miss Webb was sentenced to a community order for a period of 12 months. During this time she is required to carry out 100 hours of unpaid community work. This was reduced from 150 hours because of her early guilty plea. Miss Webb was also ordered to pay the Council’s legal costs of £248.35.
The Council has already taken action to ensure the benefit is paid back.
Cllr Brian Ramsay, the Council’s Cabinet member with responsibility for finance, says: “The Council and most of our residents are not prepared to tolerate an abuse of the benefit system. Thanks to an anonymous resident we were able to take action to stop this fraud, which if left unchecked, could have cost local taxpayers thousands of pounds. Those who are aware of a potential benefit fraud can take a stand and call our benefit fraud hotline in total confidence so we can look into the case.”
If the public has any information relating to benefit fraud, they can call Sevenoaks District Council's confidential benefit fraud hotline 24 hours a day, seven days a week on 01732 227445.
