Four Shropshire residents prosecuted for benefit fraud

Sarah Bright, of Henley Road, Ludlow, claimed housing benefit and council tax benefit but failed to tell Shropshire Council that she had received capital in excess of the prescribed limits of £16,000.

Between 6 November 2006 and 31 January 2010 she received over £17,000 of benefits that she was not entitled to and that will be recoverable.

The court sentenced her to a six weeks custodial sentence suspended for two years, and a two month curfew order from Monday to Friday between 10pm and 6am. She was also ordered to pay £350 costs to Shropshire Council.

Former Shrewsbury man prosecuted for benefit fraud
Andrew Paul Purcell, 52, formerly of Hereford Road, Shrewsbury and now of Meadow Road, Newport, pleaded guilty on Friday 10 June 2011 to a charge of dishonestly failing to notify Shropshire Council of a change in his circumstances.

The court heard garage mechanic Purcell had legitimately claimed housing and council tax benefit in November 2008 due to a back injury which meant he was unable to work. Purcell later failed to report his return to work in December 2008, and he continued to receive payments of rent allowance from Shropshire Council for another eight months before the fraud was identified.

Purcell was given a three-year conditional discharge and was ordered to pay £10 per week compensation for three years.

Former Alveley woman prosecuted for benefit fraud
Nicola Beasley, 38, formerly of Turley Green and now living near Whitchurch, pleaded guilty on Monday 13 June 2011 to a charge of knowingly failing to notify Shropshire Council that she had vacated her address in Alveley.

The court heard Beasley had continued to receive payments of housing benefit from Shropshire Council between November 2009 and March 2010, resulting in her receiving £2,383.55 rent allowance which she was not entitled to.

Beasley was given a two-year conditional discharge and was ordered to pay £200 costs. A compensation order was made for the overpaid benefit.

Ludlow man prosecuted for benefit fraud
John Titterton claimed housing benefit and council tax benefit but failed to tell Shropshire Council that he had returned to work. This meant that between 3 December 2007 and 14 March 2010 he received over £9,600 of housing benefit and council tax benefit that he was not entitled to.

The court sentenced him to three years conditional discharge and ordered him to pay £200 costs to Shropshire Council.
Council Leader, Keith Barrow, who is also Cabinet member for resources and finance, said:

“Housing benefit and council tax benefit are funded by the taxpayer and Shropshire Council has a duty to protect this money.

“It is important that we take benefit fraud very seriously, and we won’t hesitate to take legal action against those who try and defraud the
benefits system which exists to help those in need.”