Date: 07/03/2007
A Buxton man collected £2,893 benefits for both himself and his ex-partner, by falsely claiming they were only working part-time, and even after she had left him.
John Wolfendale, aged 23, formerly of Flat 11, 8 Eagle Parade, Buxton, pleaded guilty to two charges of benefit fraud at Buxton Magistrates Court on Friday 2 March 2007, and was sentenced to a curfew order. He will have to pay more than £3,000 in costs and benefits repayments.
Wolfendale had claimed housing benefit and council tax benefit for himself and his ex-partner, Leanne Higginbotham, while they lived in the Eagle Parade flat.
He received benefit on the basis that they were both part-time retail employees.
Wolfendale had not told the Council when he started working full time, and continued to collect benefits after Miss Higginbotham left him, as if she was still part of his household.
The Council"s Fraud Team started to investigate Wolfendale after they received an anonymous telephone call about Wolfendale and his ex-partner being in full time employment.
At the interview, it was discovered that Wolfendale"s partner had left him, but he didn't declare this, and had been overpaid housing benefit of £2,310 and council tax benefit of £583, between 14 November 2005, and 25 June 2006.
Wolfendale pleaded guilty to two charges of failing to report a change in circumstances for benefit purposes:
Wolfendale, who defended himself in court, was sentenced to a curfew order and must stay indoors between 9pm and 6am for 28 days. Magistrates took into account Wolfendale"s early guilty plea, and the fact that he is working full time six days a week.
He must also repay the full £2,893 benefit overpayment and the Council's costs of £276.
Councillor John Faulkner, High Peak Borough Council"s Executive Member for Corporate Services, said: "If people are claiming benefits and have a change in circumstances, they must inform the Council. If they do not, we will pursue them to retrieve overpayments and they will risk prosecution."
Since April 2006, the Council"s Fraud Team has identified overpayments totalling £178, prosecuted seven people and sanctioned 32 others.
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.