Times News

Borehamwood benefit cheats in court

By Hannah Crown

4:26pm Tuesday 16th March 2010

THREE benefit cheats who tried to steal £5,000 between them have been ordered to repay the money with interest or work for free.

Sarah Fuller, 35, of Bracken Close, Borehamwood, claimed £2,383 in housing benefit, £481 in council tax benefit, and £1,659 in income support, on the grounds she was a single parent.

In fact she had remarried and was living with her husband.

Now bankrupt, she will not have to pay back any of the £4,524 to Hertsmere Borough Council or Department for Work and Pensions.

Instead she was given 80 hours of unpaid work and ordered to pay £350 costs at Hemel Hempstead Magistrates Court on March 15.

Dean Rodwell, 46, of Winfield Mobile Home Park, in Hartspring Lane, Aldenham, has to repay £2,073 in housing and council tax benefit, which he claimed on the grounds he was unemployed when in fact he had a job.

He pleaded guilty at Watford Magistrates Court on March 12 and was ordered to pay a £1,000 fine, repay in instalments the money he claimed, and pay £451 in costs.

A 21-year-old man, Dean McGrath, was fined £300 for claiming £792 of housing benefit for a house in Hackney Close, Borehamwood, after moving to London.

He was ordered to pay the money back in instalments as well as £451 costs and a £15 victim surcharge to Hertsmere Borough Council.

Councillor John Graham, finance portfolio holder at Hertsmere Borough Council, said: "These cases show that we will continue to use all our powers to bring fraudsters to justice and recover money."

To report benefit fraud, call the 24-hour hotline on 020 8207 7428.

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