03 September 2010An Otford benefit cheat who illegally claimed more than £5,000 in benefit whilst working, has been prosecuted by Sevenoaks District Council and the Department for Work & Pensions.
Thirty year old Miss Sadie Coombs of Twitton Meadows, Otford pleaded guilty to three charges of benefit fraud at Sevenoaks Magistrates' Court on Tuesday 12 January 2010.
A routine investigation, carried out jointly by Sevenoaks District Council and the Department for Work & Pensions, found that Miss Coombs had failed to tell both organisations that she was working between July 2008 and March 2009.
As a result of her actions, Miss Coombs illegally claimed £1,884.14 in Income Support, £2,656 in Housing Benefit and £657 in Council Tax Benefit, an amount totalling £5,197.14.
At court, Miss Coombs was given a conditional discharge, which means she now has a criminal record. The illegally claimed benefit will be taken from Miss Coombs’ current benefit entitlement.
Cllr Brian Ramsay, Sevenoaks District Council's Cabinet member with responsibility for finance, says: "We will do our best to protect tax payers' money by stopping benefit cheats in their tracks. This case demonstrates that our routine checks are an effective way of catching unscrupulous people who attempt to cheat the system. Benefit cheats should be aware that we are closing in on them."
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.
