30 July 2010A Westerham benefit cheat has been found guilty by Sevenoaks Magistrates' Court after he illegally claimed more than £3,000 in benefits.
Following an investigation by Sevenoaks District Council, 59 year old David Hunt from Market Way, Westerham, appeared before the Court on Tuesday 16 February where he pleaded not guilty to two charges of benefit fraud. However the Court did not believe Mr Hunt's account that he was unaware he had a duty to declare Working Tax and Child Tax Credits to the Council, that administered his Council Tax and Housing Benefits, and he was found guilty on both charges.
The fraud came to light following a routine data-matching exercise. The data match alerted the Housing Benefit Department at Sevenoaks District Council to the fact that Mr Hunt was receiving Working Tax Credit and Child Tax Credits. When Mr Hunt's Housing Tax and Council Tax benefit claims were examined it was found that this income had not been declared to the Council.
As a result of his actions, Mr Hunt illegally claimed £2,520.39 in Housing Benefit and £577.50 in Council Tax Benefit, an amount totalling £3,097.89.
At Court, Mr Hunt was given a conditional discharge, to run for 12 months, and ordered to pay legal costs of £250.
Cllr Brian Ramsay, Sevenoaks District Council's Cabinet member with responsibility for finance, says: "The law is clear, benefit claimants have a duty to inform the relevant authorities when their circumstances change, which includes receiving additional benefit. If any resident knows someone who is committing benefit fraud, they can call the Council in total confidence and be assured that we will follow up on their lead."
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.
