scales of justice (pic by Citizensheep)

A Nantwich woman has been found guilty of fraudulently claiming nearly £6,000 in benefits.

Hazel Tinsley, 59, was given a 12-month community order and told to do 200 hours’ of unpaid work.

Tinsley, of Tailors View, Nantwich, pleaded guilty to two offences each of fraudulently claiming housing benefit and council tax benefit.

They relate to her failure to declare a change in her financial circumstances.

Tinsley claimed the benefits from December 2007 on the basis she was on a low income and her daughter was in receipt of income support.

However, during an investigation by Cheshire East Council’s benefit fraud investigation team, it was found that Tinsley’s earnings had increased significantly on or around April 1 2010, and also her daughter’s income support had ended on October 31 2011.

Failure to report both these changes led to Tinsley being overpaid housing benefit of £5252.11 and council tax benefit of £737.67.

Cllr Peter Raynes, Cheshire East Council Cabinet member in charge of finance, said: “This prosecution, and others like it, send out a clear message that we are an enforcing council and will take firm action to protect our communities from those who abuse the rules at the expense of taxpayers.

“Benefit fraud will not be tolerated. In the last financial year we successfully prosecuted more than 30 benefits offenders and we are committed to ensuring these people are brought to justice.”

If you think someone is committing benefit fraud, you can ring the confidential freephone fraud hotline on 0800 389 2787, and remain anonymous.

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One Comment

  1. £6000 gain and 200h sentence is £30 an hour….where do I apply?

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