Aylesbury benefit cheat prosecuted at town's magistrates court
A fraudster who cheated her way to more than £3,000 in benefits was handed a community order at Aylesbury Magistrates' Court this week.
Sandra Bacon of Quarrendon Avenue, Aylesbury, was given a one-year community order and ordered to undertake 60 hours unpaid work.
This follows a joint operation by Aylesbury Vale District Council and the Department for Work and Pensions, which found that she had fraudulently claimed 2,996.55 in income support and 330.99 in council tax benefits.
Miss Bacon pleaded guilty to the offence of making false statements for the purposes of obtaining benefit in that she failed to declare her partner was living with her.
Val Hinkins, Head of Internal Audit at AVDC, said: "Benefit fraud is a crime and the council is determined to treat it as such. We will always take a firm line with anyone found to be abusing the system, including prosecuting of offenders when appropriate. My message is that if you are out there and cheating the system, be warned, our benefit fraud team will catch up with you."
Anyone who thinks they know a benefit cheat is urged to contact the council's fraud investigation team via the fraud hotline 01296 585570. The 24-hour hotline is manned during office hours and is linked to the answer phone at all other times. All information is treated in the strictest of confidence.
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Weather for Aylesbury
Wednesday 22 February 2012
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 9 C to 10 C
Wind Speed: 28 mph
Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 9 C to 15 C
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