£250,000 benefit cheats face court

A BENEFIT cheat who falsely claimed more than £45,000 has been spared prison.

Paul Lowe, of Dobcross New Road, Dobcross, pleaded guilty to dishonestly failing to notify the council and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) of a change of circumstances.

A joint investigation between Oldham benefit investigators and the DWP found Lowe had falsely claimed £45,220.75 in housing benefit, council tax benefit and income support.

He was sentenced to eight months imprisonment suspended for 18 months, 180 hours unpaid work, and ordered to repay the benefit.

In another case, John Fitzpatrick, formerly of Stockfield Mount, Chadderton, pleaded guilty to falsely claiming £811 in housing and council tax benefits.

Fitzpatrick was ordered to repay the money, given a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered to contribute £150 towards costs.

During the first half of the financial year, the council’s fraud investigations team recovered more than £250,000 in overpaid housing and council tax benefits.

This has led to 16 successful prosecutions, and a further 28 individuals have been subject to other sanctions.

Andrew Bloor, the council’s housing benefit counter fraud manager, said: “The council has a duty to preserve the public purse and to make sure benefits go to people that genuinely require them.

“The vast majority of housing benefit customers are genuine and notify us when they have changes in their personal and household circumstances.

“We will use the powers at our disposal to ensure that those who abuse the system are dealt with in the appropriate manner and that they repay every penny over-claimed.”