A Mid Sussex shop worker has been prosecuted and sentenced after fraudulently claiming almost £8,000 in Housing and Council Tax benefit.
Mr Graham Pratt claimed Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit from Mid Sussex District Council but misled the Council about his employment status and living arrangements. These failures resulted in an overpayment of £7,065 of Housing Benefit and £774 of Council Tax Benefit between 4 April 2005 and 20 October 2008.
The Council investigated and prosecuted Mr Pratt, a 57-year-old shop worker who lives in Buckley Place, Crawley Down and he pleaded guilty at the Magistrates' Court in Haywards Heath on Thursday 20th August 2009.
Sentencing took place at Crawley Magistrates' Court on Friday 11th September 2009. Mr Pratt, who has no previous convictions, was sentenced to 200 hours unpaid work in the local community and given a suspended prison sentence of 8 weeks. In addition, he was ordered to pay all of the Council's costs of £827, and Mid Sussex Council will work to recover all the overpaid benefit.
"Benefit fraud is a serious crime that takes money away from local residents who really need it," said Councillor Jonathan Ash-Edwards, Cabinet Member for Finance and Service Delivery. "The Council is determined to deal firmly with the small minority of claimants who try to cheat the system by providing false or misleading information.
"Our benefit fraud investigation team carry out more than 250 fraud investigations every year and they have a high success rate with many investigations leading to prosecution or other sanctions. If you suspect that someone is cheating by claiming benefit to which they are not entitled, telephone the benefit fraud hotline on 01444 477400."
ENDS
Mr Graham Pratt claimed Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit from Mid Sussex District Council but misled the Council about his employment status and living arrangements. These failures resulted in an overpayment of £7,065 of Housing Benefit and £774 of Council Tax Benefit between 4 April 2005 and 20 October 2008.
The Council investigated and prosecuted Mr Pratt, a 57-year-old shop worker who lives in Buckley Place, Crawley Down and he pleaded guilty at the Magistrates' Court in Haywards Heath on Thursday 20th August 2009.
Sentencing took place at Crawley Magistrates' Court on Friday 11th September 2009. Mr Pratt, who has no previous convictions, was sentenced to 200 hours unpaid work in the local community and given a suspended prison sentence of 8 weeks. In addition, he was ordered to pay all of the Council's costs of £827, and Mid Sussex Council will work to recover all the overpaid benefit.
"Benefit fraud is a serious crime that takes money away from local residents who really need it," said Councillor Jonathan Ash-Edwards, Cabinet Member for Finance and Service Delivery. "The Council is determined to deal firmly with the small minority of claimants who try to cheat the system by providing false or misleading information.
"Our benefit fraud investigation team carry out more than 250 fraud investigations every year and they have a high success rate with many investigations leading to prosecution or other sanctions. If you suspect that someone is cheating by claiming benefit to which they are not entitled, telephone the benefit fraud hotline on 01444 477400."
ENDS
PR1111/AN/MF
21 September 2009
Downloads/Links
Contacts
John Lodemore
Investigations Officer
Mid Sussex District Council
Oaklands Road
Haywards Heath
West Sussex
RH16 1SS
Tel: 01444 477467
Email: JohnRL@midsussex.gov.uk
Investigations Officer
Mid Sussex District Council
Oaklands Road
Haywards Heath
West Sussex
RH16 1SS
Tel: 01444 477467
Email: JohnRL@midsussex.gov.uk
