Woman fraudulently claimed £6,557.21 from council

A WARRINGTON woman fraudulently claimed £6,557.21 council tax support, magistrates were told.
Carol Edwards (aka Boardman), 58, of Cotswold Road, Orford, appeared at Warrington Magistrates Court and pleaded guilty to a charge of council tax support fraud.
The court was told that between March, 39 2015 and February 3 last year the defendant dishonestly failed to declare to the borough council that she was cohabiting with her husband Alan Edwards – a change in circumstances that she knew would affect her council tax support.
After hearing the case, the magistrates said it had been a deliberate and sustained fraud and t sentenced her to a 12 week community order, with electronic curfew requirement from 3pm until 12.59am.
She was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £60 and legal costs of £1,000.
After the hearing, Cllr Cathy Mitchell, deputy leader of the council and cabinet member for corporate resources, said: “Council tax support is for residents who really need it, and we have a dedicated team of investigators who are committed to protecting public money from fraud.
“Our team will investigate allegations of benefit fraud and prosecute offenders, so you must let us know if you have recently made a change to your living situation, which could result in the need to review the amount of council tax support you are entitled to.”
For more information about council tax and the council tax support scheme, visit: warrington.gov.uk/counciltax.