Woman obtained £10,000 benefit illegally

A WARRINGTON woman obtained more than £10,000 benefit illegally after failing to inform the borough council that her rate of pay had increased.
Ainsley Renwick, 25, of Marshall Avenue, Dallam was given a 12 month community order requiring her to carry out 300 hours unpaid work, repay the money she had been overpaid and also £1,000 costs and a £60 victim surcharge.
She will have to pay this at £10-a-week.
Renwick was sentenced after being found guilty in June when she denied the offences.
Magistrates at Runcorn were told Renwick failed to notify Warrington Borough Council that her rate of pay had increased.
This resulted in overpayment of housing benefit and her receiving council tax support she was no longer entitled to.
She was overpaid £9,398 in housing benefit and £1,598 in council tax support.
After the hearing, Simon Bleckly, the council’s audit manager, said: “Every day in the UK more than 200 benefit thieves are caught. The clear message is – if you commit benefit fraud you will be caught.”