Shrewsbury woman, 44, on trial in benefits fraud case
A Shrewsbury woman fraudulently claimed benefits over a six-year period by failing to declare she lived with her husband, a court heard.
Linda Davis made fraudulent claims for working tax credit, housing and council tax benefit and income support between in a period spanning from 2008 to 2014, Shrewsbury Crown Court was told.
Marc Davies, prosecuting, said she committed fraud because she failed to declare that she had been living with her chef husband Stuart Birrel, at Bainbridge Green, Harlescott, Shrewsbury.
Davis, 44, notified the authorities in 2012 that she would be starting work, sparking an investigation by Shropshire Council and the Department for Work and Pensions into her past benefit claims.
Mr Davies said 44-year-old Davis had said Mr Birrel moved out in 2008 but investigators found the couple had booked a joint holiday in 2011 and Mr Birrel had taken out car insurance, telling the company the car would be parked at Davis's address.
He said Mr Birrel also had bank accounts connected to the same address and in 2011 the pair had a child together.
Mr Davies said: "When Davis told the benefits people that she didn't have anyone living with her, we say she wasn't telling the truth."
The court heard that when she was interviewed, Davis told investigators that after separating from Mr Birrel he had moved to Suffolk but still visited to see his children.
She also accused Mr Birrel of having a gambling addiction and said he had continued to link himself to her address because there were "too many debt collectors after him".
Davis denies charges relating to income support claims between April 2008 and November 2012. She also denies being concerned in fraudulent activity between April 2009 and July 2014 to claim tax credits and two further charges of fraud from 2012. The trial continues.
