A WARRINGTON woman falsely claimed more than £9,000 in benefits as a single person when she was living with her partner, a court was told.
Sharon Bourke, 38, of Broadbent Avenue, Latchford, pleaded guilty to benefit fraud at Halton Magistrates Court.
She was sentenced to a 240 hour community punishment order and ordered to pay back the overpayment and £100 legal costs.
The court was told in the 19 months up to October 2007, Bourke defrauded the council of £6,004 housing benefit and £810 council tax benefit, and the Department for Work and Pensions of £2, 223 income support.
After the hearing, Adrian Webster, the council’s benefits manager, said: “There are no ifs, no buts when it comes to benefit fraud. Deliberately withholding information that affects your claim is stealing.
“We have introduced new methods of data matching – and the obvious message to benefit cheats is you will be caught.”
People in Warrington can give information about alleged fraudsters free and in confidence on the National Benefit Fraud Hotline on 0800 854440.
A WARRINGTON woman falsely claimed more than £9,000 in benefits as a
single person when she was living with her partner, a court was told.
Woman falsely claimed £9,000 benefit
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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.
