Date: 27/01/2010
A former High Peak woman fraudulently pocketed more than £2,100 in benefits when she failed to report important changes in her circumstances.
Twenty three-year-old Emma Jones, formerly of Bankbottom, Hadfield and now from Nottingham, admitted three charges of benefit fraud before Buxton Magistrates on Friday 22 January.
The court heard that she failed to tell High Peak Borough Council and the Department for Work and Pensions that she had started work for Threshers on 19 May 2008. She also failed to inform them that her partner, Daniel Watson, had moved in with her on 1 August 2008 and was in full-time employment.
As a result, she was overpaid Housing Benefit of £1,084.56, Council Tax Benefit of £242.62 and Income Support of £821.29.
The Bench imposed a two-month curfew to run from 7pm to 7am daily. Jones has made arrangements to repay the overpaid benefits, and will have to pay the prosecution's costs.
Said Emily Thrane, Executive Councillor for Corporate Services: "We have a track record of working with the DWP to prosecute benefit cheats who claim money that should be going to deserving applicants.
"The public can be confident that we will always act on information received", she stressed.
Anyone who believes that benefits are being claimed dishonestly should call the council's fraud hotline on (01298) 28433. Callers need not give their name.