Curfew for Telford mother in £15k fraud case
A mother-of-two fraudulently claimed more than £15,000 in benefits over a two-year period by telling the authorities she was living alone with her children, a court heard.
School dinner lady Rebecca Crofts, 23, was paid income support, housing benefit and council tax benefit on the basis she was a single mother at her home in Telford between June 2011 and December 2013.
But she was in fact living with her partner Duanne Moore, who was working full-time as a manager at Morrisons supermarket in the town, Telford Magistrates Court was told.
Crofts, of Cardinals Close, Donnington Wood, Telford, also works part-time as a cleaner.
She had already admitted fraudand appeared at court yesterday to be sentenced.
She was sentenced to a three-month curfew order and electronically tagged. Crofts must stay indoors every night between 8.30pm and 7am. She was also ordered to pay £80 court costs and an £80 government victim surcharge.
Support
Mrs Kate Price, prosecuting, told the court Crofts claimed £9,058 in income support, £5,947 in housing benefit and £988 in council tax benefit during the two-year period in question – a total of £15,994.72.
She said: "The evidence shows she failed to declare that she was living with with Duanne Moore at the time of the claim, that he had not left the household and that they had not separated.
She admitted her claims were false and she knew they were false when she made them. She said it was because she did not think they could manage on his earnings alone."
Mr Phil Kolita, for the probation service, told the court Crofts and her partner were more than £30,000 in debt and she was suffering from depression after her father committed suicide.
Mr Christopher Grainger, for Crofts, said: "We are not talking about debts that have been racked up as the result of an extravagant lifestyle.
"We are talking about making ends meet, keeping a roof over your head and putting food on the table for your children."
