A Deiniolen woman who dishonestly claimed £6,047.75 in benefits was sentenced at Caernarfon Magistrates Court on Wednesday, February 24, 2010 to a 12-month Community order to undertake 120 hours of unpaid work. She was also ordered to pay £200 towards the prosecution costs.
Anita Rosemary Jones of 1 Tai Gerddi, Deiniolen had been claiming Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit and Income Support as a single person for many years, however, information received by Gwynedd Council alleged that Miss Jones had a partner living with her called Gareth Hughes who was engaged in full time employment.
Alwyn Jones, prosecuting on behalf of the Council and the Department for Works and Pensions said that a surveillance operation conducted by officers from Gwynedd Council’s fraud investigation team observed Mr Hughes coming and going from the property over a period of several weeks – details of Mr Hughes’ employment was also obtained. Miss Jones was then questioned under caution by fraud investigators where she admitted that she and Mr Hughes had been co-habiting since August 2008.
Miss Jones pleaded guilty to two counts of dishonestly failing to notify both the Council and the department for Works and Pensions of changes in her circumstances that she knew would affect her benefit entitlement.
The dishonestly claimed £6,047.75 in benefits will have to be re-paid.
