Benefit cheat must repay £10,000

2:14pm Saturday 22nd March 2008

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A BENEFIT cheat who stole more than £10,000 has been ordered to pay the money back.

Maureen Campbell, aged 59, of Chippindall Close, Great Sankey, admitted benefit fraud at Halton Magistrates' Court last Monday, March 3.

“The obvious message to benefit cheats is you will be caught. This case is yet another clear demonstration of our determination to tackle benefit fraud.”

Adrian Webster, the council’s benefits manager

Campbell was claiming benefits when she was in fact in employment.

Between August 2005 and July 2007, Campbell falsely claimed income support from the Department for Work and Pensions and housing benefit and council tax benefit from Warrington Borough Council.

Campbell received a four-month curfew order, meaning she cannot leave her house between 7pm and 7am and was ordered to pay £100 costs.

Adrian Webster, the council's benefits manager, said: "Deliberately withholding information that affects your claim is stealing. That's why we are targeting benefit thieves.

"The obvious message to benefit cheats is you will be caught. This case is yet another clear demonstration of our determination to tackle benefit fraud."

People in Warrington can give information about alleged fraudsters free and in confidence on the National Benefit Fraud Hotline on 0800 854440.