20/04/2007 - Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council prosecute resident for fraudulent benefit claims

Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council has successfully prosecuted a Hatfield resident who made fraudulent claims for housing and council tax benefits.

Marian Fox aged 48, of Fore Street, Hatfield pleaded guilty to benefit fraud at St Albans Magistrates Court on Friday 13 April and was sentenced on Wednesday 18 April to pay a £1000 fine, compensation of £4221.02 to Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council and court costs of £250.

Ms Fox initially made a claim to Welwyn Hatfield Council for housing and council tax benefit in October 1999, and declared that she owned a property in London. She renewed this claim in October 2000, despite having purchased a property in Margate in April 2000.

Ms Fox ceased claiming benefit from Welwyn Hatfield Council in September 2001 and purchased a further property in Margate in February 2005. She reapplied for housing and council tax benefit in February 2006, making no mention of ownership of either of the two Margate properties.

Ms Fox was summonsed for not declaring ownership of her two properties in Margate or the income she received from renting them.

During the period Ms Fox was receiving benefit payments from Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council, she was also receiving housing benefit payments from Thanet District Council for the tenants living in one of the Margate properties.

Bob Jewell Chief Resources Officer, said: “Benefit fraud is a crime which impacts directly on the local community – false claims mean there are less resources available to help those in genuine need and can also lead to tax increases. An increasingly large proportion of benefit fraud committed in the borough is not only being detected but followed through with prosecutions. We need to make sure that this message gets through – if you commit benefit fraud it’s not a question of whether you’ll be caught, but when.”

If anyone is in any doubt as to whether their benefit claim is incorrect please contact Welwyn Hatfield Housing Benefits Office on 01707 357000. If you suspect someone is defrauding the system please call Welwyn Hatfield’s confidential fraud hotline on 01707 357606.