A benefit cheat was handed a 12 week suspended prison sentence and order to carry out 250 hours community service last week.
John Wyn Owen, of Bro Tudur, Llangefni, was also given an immediate three month Curfew Order, which means he will have to stay home between 9pm and 7.00am.
Owen had initially claimed Housing and Council Tax Benefit in November 2007 on the basis that he was off work due to sickness and that he received Income Support.
However, investigators became suspicious of his benefit claims and subsequent enquiries discovered that he was still employed by S. Webb and Son in Menai Bridge between November 2005 and July 2007. Owen had been receiving full wages between 14th November 2005 and 26th November 2006.
When interviewed, Owen admitted that he had completed the benefit application forms during a period that he was off sick. However, he repeatedly failed to answer questions about his employment between November 2005 and November 2006 and why Webb’s had stated that he had work there until July 2007.
Failure to declare his correct circumstances meant that Owen was overpaid Housing Benefit of £2669.03, Council Tax Benefit of £558.07 and Income Support of £3363.30 during a period between November 2005 and January 2007. He was charged with three offences of dishonestly obtaining benefit and had pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing.
Sentencing Owen on Thursday, May 27th, Holyhead Magistrates said the case had crossed the prosecution threshold and that the overpaid benefit was a significant sum over a long period. There had been three separate offences and it was clear that the defendant knew the result of his actions, they said.
Magistrates, however, took into account his early guilty plea, his personal circumstances and the fact that he was making repayments, when suspending his 12 week prison sentence for 12 months. He was also ordered to pay £75 prosecution costs.
An Isle of Anglesey County Council spokesperson said, “This case should serve as a clear warning to anyone trying to cheat the benefit system and this case shows that the Courts will deal with benefit fraudsters by handing out prison sentences. We’d also urge anyone who has information about benefit fraud to contact our Counter Fraud hotline. You do not have to leave your name and the information you give will be treated in confidence.”
The Counter Fraud Hotline can be contacted on (01248) 751888.
