Shropshire benefits cheat jailed over £33,000 fraud
A man who fraudulently claimed more than £30,000 in benefits when he was living in Shropshire has been jailed.
Andrew Davies was not entitled to the thousands of pounds of income support, housing benefit and council tax that he received between December 2007 and October 2012.
Davies, 54, who was living in Acton Reynald near Shawbury at the time, failed to disclose the fact that he had savings in excess of the permitted benefit limits.
He pleaded guilty to the offences and was jailed for six months on March 24 at Shrewsbury Magistrates Court.
Davies, who now lives in Bellevue Terrace, Edinburgh, benefited from about £33,750, which he was not entitled, the court heard.
He was told that he would be liable to pay back the money that he had falsely claimed.
Shropshire Council's benefits service today urged housing benefit and council tax support claimants of their statutory duty to promptly notify the council's benefits service of changes in circumstances that might affect their entitlement to benefits.
Jessica Taylor, Shropshire Council's benefits service manager, said: "From this case, a total of over £30,000 had been claimed from the council.
"The claimant was not entitled to this money and it is simply not acceptable for anyone to do this.
"It is the responsibility of people claiming housing benefit and council tax support to declare any income or capital to the council, plus any other changes to their circumstances.
"Where people fail to do this, the council will investigate the matter and will require the money to be repaid.
"In addition, we will not hesitate to prosecute where this is appropriate.
"I hope this sends a clear message to others that fraudsters will be caught and punished.
"This is not a victimless crime, as fraudulently claimed benefits take money out of the pockets of every hardworking taxpayer, as well as the people who genuinely need support to make ends meet.
"I strongly urge all claimants to provide the benefits service with accurate claim information at all times, and to promptly provide any changes to their circumstances that may affect their entitlement to benefits."
Shropshire Council encourages people to contact the National Benefit Fraud Hotline on 0800 854 440 if they have any suspicions that offences may be being committed.
