Former Thatcham woman jailed for 14-months for fraudulently claiming almost £120k

On May 10, Tracey Pembroke, aged 41 formerly of Horse Guards Way, was sentenced at Reading Crown Court for dishonestly failing to notify West Berkshire Council and the Department for Works and Pension that she was living with her partner between February 2002 and July 2010.
This resulted in her being overpaid housing and council tax benefit of £89,270.24 and income support of £30,251.01, a total overpayment of £119,521.25.
The court was told how Ms Pembroke had purchased holidays, cars and hotel stays during the period of her offending and that on multiple occasions she told the relevant authorities that she was a lone parent when this was not the case.
In sentencing Ms Pembroke to 14 months imprisonment, His Honour Judge Ian Grainger, said: "The substantial aggravating feature in this case is that although not fraudulent from outset the claims became so rapidly.
"There is also some evidence of extravagance although not on the scale one sometimes comes across.
"You used the benefit to fund a part-time nursing degree. That would be no justification for these appalling offences."
He added: "This kind of benefit fraud is a serious social evil, it went on for eight years, the value is just under £120,000.
"Your counsel sensibly acknowledges that there will be a custodial sentence but urges me to suspend it.
"Having considered this carefully I do not feel that that course is one I could take, given the amounts involved and the length of the fraud, despite the guilty plea and length of time since the offences."
West Berkshire Council's executive member for finance, Alan Law (Con, Basildon) said: "This is a great result which reflects the severity of the crime.
"The council will not hesitate to take legal action to bring fraudsters to justice."