Women plead guilty to Council Tax Support fraud

TWO women have pleaded guilty to Council Tax Support fraud in separate hearings at Warrington Magistrates’ Court.
The prosecutions were brought by Warrington Borough Council.
Clare McKendrick, 39, formerly of Lathom Avenue, Orford, admitted two offences of Council Tax Support Fraud and Single Person Discount fraud.
The court heard she failed to notify the council of a change in her circumstances that she knew would affect her Council Tax Support and Single Person Discount as she was cohabiting with a partner.
She fraudulently claimed £1,000.87 in Council Tax Support and £300.60 in Single Person Discount.
The court sentenced McKendrick – who now lives in St Helens – to a 12-month community order with a 60-hour unpaid work requirement, £100 costs and a victim surcharge of £85. She will also have to repay the full amount claimed.
In the other hearing, Ann Dorothy Price, 46, of Fairfield Street, Howley, admitted two offences.
She dishonestly failed to disclose her own and her partner’s self-employed earnings which she knew would affect her entitlement to Council Tax Support. She claimed £3,724.58 in fraudulent Council Tax Support which she will have to repay.
The court sentenced Price to a 12-month community order with a 60-hour unpaid work order, an £85 victim surcharge and £100 costs.
Cllr Russ Bowden, the borough council’s lead member for corporate finance, said: “We are committed to helping vulnerable people in Warrington and Council Tax Support is one of the ways we try to lighten the load for residents who may be struggling financially. To see this system abused is appalling and we are determined to prosecute anyone who defrauds a system designed to help those in genuine need.”