Woman guilty of claiming dead relative's benefits and pension

Janet Parlour of Willow Tree Glade, Calcot, stood trial at Reading Crown Court (pictured) last week charged with five counts of fraud.
Instead of disclosing her father’s or her cousin’s death, Mrs Parlour managed to accrue about £19,000 pounds illegally, the court heard.
The 62-year-old claimed her cousin, Alan Robert’s housing benefit and her father Charles Summers’ pension.
Giles Atkinson, prosecuting, told the jury that instead of informing the Department for Work and Pensions that her father had died on February 2, 2009, Mrs Parlour told the department that his pension should continue.
Mr Atkinson also said Mrs Parlous failed to tell West Berkshire Council that Mr Roberts had moved out of her home on December 31, 2005, and then failed to notify the local authority her cousin had died on March 25, 2009.
"Both sets of money were paid directly to the defendant,” Mr Atkinson said. “In the case of Mr Roberts it was because she was acting as his landlady. In the case of Mr Summers it was because she was acting as an appointee, handling his affairs.
"The Department for Work and Pensions was initially informed about the death of Mr Summers but then there was a phone call from someone calling themselves Janet Parlour, the daughter of Mr Summers, in effect retracting the statement, that the circumstances had changed, and that the pension should continue."
However Nigel Daly, defending, denied the claims, describing Mrs Parlour a ‘hard working and caring woman’.
Mr Daly told the jury: “Count one, two, three, four and five all involve the matter of dishonesty. It’s something the prosecution most prove. You must be satisfied so that you are sure in every one of those counts.
“She has reached the age of 62 with not one conviction. No offences of dishonesty. It is something you should put into the balance in her favour.”
However after two hours and 27 minutes of deliberations the jury returned guilty verdicts in respect of count two to five, and a not guilty verdict in respect of count one.
Mrs Parlour was released on unconditional bail to be sentenced at Reading Crown Court on January 25.