Kingsclere hairdresser convicted of benefits fraud
Fifty-one-year-old Julie Sutton, of Fawconer Road, Kingsclere, had initially claimed the benefits while suffering from vertigo, Newbury magistrates were told on Thursday, July 4.
However Naomi Edwards, prosecuting on behalf of the Department of Work and Pensions, said that Ms Sutton had gone on to accept £4,337.64 to which she was not entitled. The sum was accrued over a period of more than 45 weeks, she added.
Ms Sutton admitted dishonestly failing to notify the authorities of a change in circumstances between April 30 and October 12 last year.
Mike Davis, defending, said: “She is a lady of previous good character and this is a somewhat unusual case in that she informed the DWP that she was working, and a department employee statement confirms that.”
Despite her admission to the charge of dishonesty, Mr Davis added: “She fell foul of the regulations through ignorance rather than deceipt.”
This was accepted by magistrates, who imposed a six-month conditional discharge, with £40 costs and £15 surcharge.
No order for compensation was made because Ms Sutton was said to be already repaying the cash.