The following case is up for sentencing at Ipswich Crown Court on Thursday 19 June 2008
Name: Ms Trudi Girkin (now McKinney, Born 29/1/1961
Address: 42 Rockingham Road, Bury St Edmunds
Charges:
1. Dishonestly failing to notify a change of circumstances contrary to section 111A of the Social Security Act 1992 as amended. Between 5 September and 4 June 2006m failed to declare that she was no longer living at the address where she claimed Housing Benefit.
2. Dishonestly failing to notify a change of circumstances contrary to section 111A of the Social Security Act 1992 as amended. In March 2006 sub-let her Havebury property to Christopher Sanderson.
Sentence: To be sentenced Thursday 19 June 2008 at Ipswich Crown Court
Background to case
Ms Girkin was housed as homeless in July 2005 but by September 2005 she was living with her boyfriend at 29 Coltsfoot Crescent, Bury St Edmunds. In March 2006 Miss Girkin sub-let her Havebury property in Grove Park, Bury St Edmunds to Christopher Sanderson.Housing Benefit is only payable on the property where a person lives as their main residence.
At court Miss Girkin claimed that she was living at the property in Grove Park at the time and that Mr Sanderson was her boyfriend who had moved into her property but they had broken up and he was then getting his own back. She had not informed the council that Mr Sanderson was living with her, if he had done so. Mr Sanderson claimed that Ms Girkin told him that she owned the property as part of a divorce settlement and charged him £50 rent and £15 Council Tax to live there but after a few weeks she wanted rent in advance which Mr Sanderson did not have at the time and she changed to locks with his belongings inside, refusing to give him access. The belongings were never returned to Mr Sanderson. The council did various checks under the Data Protection Act and the Social Security Fraud Act to obtain evidence that Miss Girkin was using the Coltsfoot Crescent address as her main residence. The jury found her guilty of the offence.
As a result of Ms Girkin failing to notify the council of the change in her circumstances she was overpaid £776.33 housing benefit and £278.58 Council Tax Benefit.
ENDS
Issued by sally Easton, Communications Unit, St Edmundsbury Borough Council.Phone: 01284 757046 Email: sally.easton@stedsbc.gov.uk
