A man from Chepstow and a man from Abergavenny were both sentenced for benefit fraud last week, after failing to truthfully declare their circumstances.
Daniel Hickey, 63, from Bishops Crescent, Abergavenny, was given a £2500 fine, and told to pay £500 costs and a £15 victim surcharge at Newport Magistrates Court. He was overpaid £7,685 in housing benefit and £1,718 council tax.
Mr Hickey applied for benefit on two separate occasions without declaring money he had in the bank. The frauds took place between November 2004 to April 2006 and April 2009 to June 2010. On his second claim to the council’s benefits department, he was found to have had in excess of £80,000 which he failed to declare.
A Chepstow man was sentenced to 200 hours of community service after pleading guilty to benefit fraud last week.
Craig Moore, 49, of Maple Avenue in Bulwark, Chepstow, was charged with failure to declare a change in circumstances and his case was heard at Caerphilly Magistrates Court.
Mr Moore’s fraud took place from 21st April 2008 to 28th March 2010 and he was overpaid by £6,643.29. He returned to work but failed to inform the authority and continued to receive help with his rent and council tax.
Monmouthshire County Council’s Investigating Officer, Mark Baker, said:
“Monmouthshire County Council is committed to rooting out those people who take advantage of a system designed to help people who are in need of financial assistance.”
If you think someone is fraudulently claiming benefits, you can pass on details of your suspicions confidentially on Monmouthshire County Council’s Investigations Team hotline – 0800 3164150 – or email: [email protected]
