More than £38k paid to benefits fraudster
A MUM fraudulently received tens of thousands of pounds in benefits after claiming she lived alone while, in fact, she was living with her husband.
Bethan Jones received overpayments totalling almost £39,000 while claiming she lived alone with her son from 2014.
But an anonymous tip-off, followed by an investigation by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), revealed the 31-year-old was living with her husband Craig Jones, who earned £16,000 a year.
DWP surveilience caught video evidence of the two entering and leaving the same property at Jonquil Close in St Mellons, Cardiff, in December 2016.
Prosecutor Nuhu Gobir outlined the facts of the case at Jones’ sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court yesterday.
Mr Gobir told the court Jones’ claims for council tax benefit, income support and Jobseeker’s Allowance were originally legitimate based on her declared circumstances of being single with a dependent child.
He said Jones first informed the authorities of a change in her living situation after marrying Craig Jones in June 2013.
But the following year she further told the DWP that she had separated from Mr Jones and was again living as a single person.
Mr Gobir said: “Information came to light, by way of an anonymous tipoff that she was residing with Craig Jones.”
The DWP subsequently launched an investigation examining Jones and collected surveillance from outside her home.
Footage captured in 2016 revealed that the two were, in fact, living together at Jones’ home in Jonquiil Close, St Mellons.
Evidence was also collected from unnamed financial institutions.
Mr Gobir said: “The total loss to the public purse is £38,903.27.”
Neil Evans, defending, told the court his client entered guilty pleas at the earliest possible opportunity. He said Jones was getting into “dire personal circumstances”, including significant amounts of debt, at the time of the offending, which has continued to spiral forcing her to file for bankruptcy.
Mr Evans said Craig Jones earned £16,000 a year at the time of the offending.
“While it does not justify her decision to claim those benefits it does seem that played on her mind,” he said. “That decision meant that there were significant disagreements between hushand and wife. The relationship is now significantly better.”
Mr Evans added that his client had recently received an offer to study hairdressing at Coleg Gwent.
Jones, of Jonquil Close, St Mellons, pleaded guilty to seven counts of making false statements to obtain benefits at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court.
Judge Nicola Jones said Jones’ fraud was “substantial” and occurred over a “significant period of time”.
“You declared that you were single and living with a dependent child when there was a period from 2014 when you did have an adult living in the house which was your husband Craig Jones,” she said.
Jones received a five-month prison sentence suspended for 12 months, and was ordered to take part in a 12-day rehabiliation requirement. She must also pay a £115 victim surcharge.
A spokesman for the Department of Work and Pensions said: “Only a small minority of benefit claimants are dishonest, but cases like these show how we are catching the minority who cheat the system.”