Date: 07/03/2007
A Glossop man has pleaded guilty to receiving housing and council tax benefits for the home he moved out of, without informing the Council.
David Higham, aged 33, formerly of 16 Edward Street, Glossop, was fined £200 for benefit fraud at Buxton Magistrates Court, on Friday 2 March 2007, and ordered to pay costs of £308 and the benefit overpayment, totalling £960.
Higham have moved out of the Edward Street premises on 10 March 2006, didn't inform the Council"s benefits team, so his bank account continued to be credited with housing benefit and council tax benefit.
The Council"s Fraud Team started investigating when the Royal Mail returned post sent to Higham"s Edwards Street address.
Fraud investigation officers visited the property on 23 May 2006, and found it empty.
They traced Higham but he failed to attend an interview with the fraud team and ignored their letters, so the Council had no alternative but to prosecute. Higham pleaded guilty by letter at court and was fined.
Councillor John Faulkner, High Peak Borough Council"s Executive Member for Corporate Services, said: "This is a warning to people who commit benefit fraud and think they can avoid prosecution by failing to attend for interview with the Fraud Team. In fact, if we cannot interview an offender, we have no choice but to summons them and recoup the money they have fraudulently claimed."
Since April 2006, the Council"s Fraud Team has identified overpayments totalling £178,000. In addition, seven people have been prosecuted and 32 others have been sanctioned.
If you know anybody who is claiming housing benefit or council tax benefit falsely, you can phone High Peak Borough Council"s dedicated fraud hotline on 01298 28433. You do not have to leave your name.