Benefit cheat caught and sentenced

A BENEFIT cheat who defrauded Warrington council out of £13,771 has been caught, sentenced and ordered to pay back the overpayment.
Lynda Leah, 34, of Capesthorne Road, Orford, appeared at Warrington Magistrates Court and pleaded guilty to two charges of benefit fraud.
Leah failed to declare that her husband lived with her during the period April 2011-May 2014.
She falsely claimed £11,967 income support and £1,804 council tax support from the council.
Leah was given a six week suspended sentence for both offences to run concurrent for 12 months and 100 hours unpaid work. She was also ordered to pay £80 victim surcharge with £300 towards prosecution costs and ordered to repay the overpayments in full.
Adrian Webster, the council’s benefits and exchequer services manager, said: “Every day in the UK over 200 benefit thieves are caught – the clear message is – if you commit benefit fraud you will be caught.”
Anyone who suspects someone is fraudulently claiming benefits to which they are not entitled is asked to call the council’s confidential benefit fraud hotline on 442282 / 442283 or email [email protected]