A MAN who falsely claimed £10,048 in benefits as a single person, when he was living with his partner has been given a suspended prison sentence by magistrates at Warrington.
Michael Stone, 54, of Orange Grove, Padgate, pleaded guilty to benefit fraud.
The court was told Stone defrauded Warrington Borough Council of £8,304 Housing Benefit and £1,744 Council Tax Benefit between May 2004 and September last year.
He was sentenced to four months in prison suspended for two years, ordered to pay back the overpayment and to pay £1,000 costs.
After the hearing, Adrian Webster, the council’s benefits manager, said “Benefit cheats are not just defrauding the Government, but their own tax paying neighbours and communities. The obvious message to benefit cheats is – ‘you will be caught.’”
A MAN who falsely claimed £10,048 in benefits as a single person, when he was living with his partner has been given a suspended prison sentence by magistrates at Warrington.
Benefit cheat claimed £10k
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Gary Skentelbery
Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.
