Benefit fraudster given prison sentence

Gary King of Sylvanus House, Wellingborough, failed to declare that he had capital and savings of over £25,000 whilst claiming job seekers allowance, housing benefit and council tax benefit. Wellingborough Council launched a joint investigation with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) after information was received that he had the savings in undisclosed bank accounts. Mr King was interviewed under caution by officers at Wellingborough DWP and Wellingborough Council and was later charged to appear at Wellingborough Magistrates Court.

Mr King pleaded guilty to four offences - two of failing to declare capital and savings to obtain job seekers allowance, one of failing to declare capital and savings to obtain housing and council tax benefit, and one of allowing false information to be supplied to obtain housing and council tax benefit. On Tuesday 30 August he was sentenced to two weeks imprisonment for each offence to run consecutively, suspended for 12 months. Mr King was also given a six month supervision order, ordered to do 150 hours unpaid work, 10 days specialised education and employment training and pay £400 in costs. The magistrates had been advised that all overpayments had already been recovered by Wellingborough Council.

Councillor Barry Graves, deputy leader of Wellingborough Council, said: "We take benefit fraud extremely seriously. In this case Mr King has now repaid the money, which is reflected in his sentence, but benefit fraud is a very serious offence and puts an unnecessary burden on the taxpayer. We won't tolerate it. We have an excellent track record in uncovering fraud and this prosecution should serve as a warning to others who think they can get away with cheating the system."

Mr King had claimed £4,804.24 job seekers allowance, £3,771.17 housing benefit and £103.04 council tax benefit, making the total overpaid £8,678.45.