A mother who dishonestly claimed more than £12,000 in benefits has been ordered to repay the money and do 70 hours’ unpaid community work.
Hazel Williamson, 45, of Melksham Close, Macclesfield, pleaded guilty to dishonesty failing to report a change in her circumstances at South and East Cheshire Magistrates’ Court on November 6, 2014.
Magistrates heard that Williamson had claimed housing benefit and Council Tax benefit on the basis that she was a lone parent on a low income.
But she failed to report a change in her circumstances when her partner moved in December 2010 and was supporting her financially, the court was told.
Cheshire East Council’s benefit investigations team found she continued to receive housing benefit and Council Tax benefit for more than two years, which led to her being overpaid state benefits totalling £12,172.
Magistrates sentenced Williamson to a 12 month community order with a requirement to complete 70 hours’ unpaid work.
She was also ordered to pay a £60 victim’s surcharge.
In addition to the sentence Williamson will have to repay the money.
Councillor Peter Raynes, Cheshire East Council Cabinet member in charge of finance, said: “Benefit fraud is immoral and simply wrong.
“It will not be tolerated by Cheshire East.
“We are an enforcing Council and are firmly committed to ensuring such offenders are brought to justice. This prosecution, and others like it, sends out a clear message that we not tolerate benefit fraudsters cheating the system at the expense of honest taxpayers.”
If you think someone is committing benefit fraud, you can ring the confidential freephone fraud hotline on 0800 389 2787. Alternatively, you can report suspected fraud via the Council’s website at cheshireeast.gov.uk
