Date: 23/09/2008
High Peak Borough Council and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) successfully prosecuted 2 cases of benefit fraud at Buxton Magistrates Court on Friday, September 19, 2008.
The evidence for both cases was discovered when benefit information was compared with Her Majesty's Revenues and Customs' tax records.
In the first prosecution, Roy Cheetham, 55, of Brailsford Close, Gamesley, pleaded guilty to falsely receiving jobseekers allowance of £1,715.35, housing benefit of £900.56 and council tax benefit of £243.35, between July 16, 2007, and February 10, 2008.
The offences were committed because he failed to declare a change in circumstances when he started work on July 14, 2007. He continued to sign on for jobseekers allowance and claim housing benefit and council tax benefit to which he was not entitled, while he was working.
Cheetham received 40 hours community punishment order, to be completed over a 12-month period. He will also have to pay back all the overpaid money to the Council and the DWP.
In the second case, partners Carl Romaniw, 25, and John Williams, 36, of Church Fold, Charlesworth, were both found guilty for receiving income support of £7,691.59, housing benefit of £3,097.43 and council tax benefit of £1,071.65, between October 23, 2006, and December 30, 2007.
Romaniw claimed income support, housing benefit and council tax benefit for himself and Williams. However, he failed to declare a change in their circumstances when Williams started work in October 2006.
They received 80 hours community punishment order to be completed over a 12-month period each. They must also repay all the money to the Council and the DWP and pay £75 costs each.
Emily Thrane, Deputy Leader and Executive Councillor for Corporate Services, said: "These prosecutions confirm how the Council works closely with our partners to ensure that cases of benefit fraud are identified. If you think that somebody might be claiming benefits, to which they are not entitled, please call our fraud hotline."
Since April, 20 people have been either sanctioned or prosecuted for fraud by the Council.
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.
The Department for Work and Pensions' Hotline is 0800 854440 and their Local Office number is 01298 306937 or 01298 306938.