Woman admits benefits fraud

GUILTY . . . Rebecca McGladdery

A WOMAN who reported a politician to a benefits hotline has admitted fraudulently claiming benefits.

Rebecca McGladdery, of Galland Street, Greenacres, pleaded guilty to three charges brought by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) at Oldham Magistrates’ Court.

She continued to claim benefits, including incapacity benefit and job seeker’s allowance, while working between January, 2008, and April, 2009.

The fraudulent payments totalled £6,413, which she is now voluntarily paying back to the DWP.

Rebecca Romih, defending, said: “Miss McGladdery is of previous good character and pleaded guilty at the earliest possible opportunity. This was a misunderstanding on her part and she didn’t realise that she had to declare the hours she worked but accepts the charges brought.”

Miss McGladdery, a part-time cleaner who is training to be a teaching assistant, appeared on TV and in newspapers before last year’s General Election claiming Liberal Democrat candidate Elwyn Watkins had paid staff £2.80 less than the minimum wage when she worked for the party in 2009.

Mr Watkins denied the claims and said he was the victim of a smear campaign.

He was reported to HM Revenue and Customs but an investigation found they were working as volunteers and not employees and the matter was dropped.

Miss McGladdery had gone to work for Labour when she made the allegations and she still volunteers for the party.

Magistrates said they believed Miss McGladdery had intentionally committed benefit fraud and adjourned the case until June 14 for probation reports.