TWO benefit fraudsters who were overpaid thousands of pounds in council tax after fooling Cherwell District Council have been in court.

Brooke Collins and Jacqueline Beck both admitted separate charges of fraud at Banbury Magistrates’ Court on January 27.

Collins, 34, admitted one count of dishonestly failing to notify of a change of circumstances affecting his benefit and one count of fraud by false representation.

The court heard that between September 2010 and November 2012 Collins, of Bartsia Road, Bicester, failed to tell council officials about his live-in partner David Pittuck.

Instead he said they were no longer together and that he did not know where Pittuck was. He was overpaid a total of £9,3571.71 in housing benefit, council tax benefit and council tax reduction. He was given a 24-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay a £15 victims’ surcharge and £50 in costs.

He has entered into a repayment plan with the council to return all of the fraudulently claimed money.

Beck, of School Lane, Banbury, admitted knowingly failing to notify of a change of circumstances affecting her entitlement to benefit.

Magistrates were told between September 2011 and June 2014 the 62-year-old failed to inform Cherwell District Council that she had got a second part-time job.

She was overpaid a total of £4,629.85 in housing benefit, council tax benefit and council tax reduction. Beck, who has also entered into a repayment arrangement with the council, was sentenced to a four-week community order with a daily curfew from 8pm to 7am.

She was also ordered to pay a £15 victims’ surcharge and £50 in costs.

Ken Atack, the council’s lead member for finance, said: “The benefits system is in place to help people in genuine need and we will take a firm and unwavering approach to anyone who abuses it.

By defrauding the system these two people did not just steal from the council but from the taxpayers who contribute towards this system.”

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