Conditional discharge for three men after benefit fraud offences (From Barry And District News)

Conditional discharge for three men after benefit fraud offences

IN cases brought by the Vale of Glamorgan Council before magistrates at Barry, three local men have been conditionally discharged for unlawfully obtaining benefits.

Two defendants - Paul Martin, of Glan y Dwr, and Stephen Hancock, of Church Road, both Barry - were discharged for 12 months for failing to notify the council of a change in circumstances which affected their entitlement to housing and council tax benefits.

Mr Martin, who pleaded guilty, was ordered to pay council costs of £300 at the rate of £10 per week, and Mr Hancock, who was found guilty following a trial, was ordered to pay costs of £452.48 within 28 days.

The court heard the defendants had been in receipt of job seekers" allowance which was a gateway benefit to housing and council tax benefits but this ceased when they found employment - Mr Martin as a building contractor and Mr Hancock with cardiff council.

Failure to notify the council of their change in circumstances resulted in benefit overpayments to Mr Martin (£1,272.33), recoverable, and Mr Hancock (£750.80), which had already been recovered.

The offence against Mr Martin was discovered as a result of a data match conducted in co-operation with the department of work and pensions and that against Mr Hancock as a result of a visit to his home.

The third defendant, William Richards, of Edmund Place, was conditionally discharged for two years after admitting a similar offence. He was ordered to pay council"s costs of £909 at the rate of £20 per month.

The court heard the offence arose as a result of an anonymous tip-off to the council"s free, 24-hour fraud hotline.

The defendant had failed to declare income from his employment as a caretaker from February, 1995, and, as a result, had unlawfully received overpayment of housing benefit and council tax benefit amounting to £9,816.21 recoverable.

Application forms clearly state that failure to declare changes in circumstances could lead to prosecution.

BLOB: The council fraud hotline number is available on 0800 7312525.