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Surrey
Heath Borough Council Surrey Police Woking Area
Primary Care Trust Surrey County
Council |
NEWS
RELEASE |
Benefit Fraud
Prosecution
Surrey Heath Borough Council has successfully prosecuted a local resident
who claimed Housing and Council Tax benefit fraudulently.
On Friday 9th December 2005 at Woking Magistrates Court, Sharon Stannard
of Guildford Road, Lightwater pleaded guilty to one charge of dishonestly
failing to give prompt notification of a change in circumstances and two
charges of making a false representation in order to obtain benefit.
Following a routine intervention visit, on Tuesday 19th April 2005, it came to light that Miss Stannard had changed her employment in September 2004 and failed to inform the Council of this. Furthermore, during the interview, Miss Stannard was asked to sign a statement declaring the information she had given was correct, Miss Stannard stated that she did not want to as she had not been honest, as her boyfriend had been living with her for the last two years.
On Monday 16th May 2005 an interview under caution took place at the Council Offices. Miss Stannard admitted that she knew she should have advised the Council when her partner moved in and when she changed her job. She also admitted that she had acted dishonestly in failing to notify the Council of these changes. Similarly, she admitted that she had been dishonest in that she had made false statements in her various application forms.
Following the interview, Miss Stannard’s benefit was cancelled with effect from Sunday 24th April 2005. As a result of Miss Stannard’s dishonest conduct, an overpayment of housing benefit totalling £10,168.22 and Council Tax Benefit of £331.56 for the period 7th April 2003 to 24th May 2005 was established.
Miss Stannard was convicted and sentenced to an 18 month conditional discharge. In addition to repaying the £10,499.78 overpaid benefits, Miss Stannard will have to pay Surrey Heath Borough Council's costs of £789.10.
Surrey Heath has a confidential
benefit fraud hotline which members of the public can use to report suspected
benefit fraud. The number is 01276 707372
For further information or photographs contact:
Amanda Gow, Press & Communications Officer 01276 707312
Jenni Wheller, Communications Assistant 01276 707415
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