The following prosecution took place at Sudbury Magistrates’ Court today:
Name: Mrs Jacqueline Winner
Address: Stirling Drive, Haverhill
Date of birth: 27/ 06/ 1942
Charge: On 04/ 10/ 2004 dishonestly made a false representation with a view to obtaining benefit or other payment or advantage.
On 15/ 11/ 2002 dishonestly made a false representation with a view to obtaining benefit or other payment or advantage.
Guilty plea or trial: Not guilty plea – found guilty on both counts following today’s trial
Sentence: Fined £1,000 for each count and ordered to pay £880 costs within 14 days.
Background to case: Mrs Winner and her late husband Anthony made a claim for housing and Council Tax benefits on 15 November, 2002. They renewed their claim on 4 October 2004, and both times said they had no savings, bank accounts or investments.
Using powers under the Social Security Fraud Act, evidence was gathered from various banks which showed the couple had capital of more than £237,000 when they made the claim.
Court proceedings on two charges were begun by St Edmundsbury. Mr Winner died before these proceedings begun.
Following the sentencing, Cllr Sara Mildmay-White, Portfolio Holder for Resources and Community Development at St Edmundsbury Borough Council, said:
“We welcome the sentence passed down by the court today as it sends out a firm message that benefit fraud will not be tolerated in St Edmundsbury. Benefit fraud is a crime we take very seriously. The whole community should not be forced to pay for it.
"We would appeal to anyone who suspects someone they know may be committing fraud to contact the Fraud Hotline in confidence on 0800 515368.”
ENDS
ISSUED BY LIZ HEARNSHAW, COMMUNICATIONS UNIT, ST EDMUNDSBURY BOROUGH COUNCIL. Tel 01284 757033. liz.hearnshaw@stedsbc.gov.uk
