BENEFIT cheats are being warned there is nowhere to hide.

The message was issued by councillors after it was revealed more than £250,000 was being recovered from fraudsters following a crackdown by Vale of White Horse and South Oxfordshire district councils.

The Vale is clawing back more than £154,000 in benefit overpayments, and has issued 24 cautions, three penalty fines and successfully prosecuted eight people since April.

South Oxfordshire is set to recover more than £109,000 in overpayments and has issued 26 cautions, six penalty fines and successfully prosecuted five people.

The money is being recovered through deductions to wages and taken out of future benefits.

South Oxfordshire cabinet member for finance Rodney Mann said: “The message to the benefit cheats is loud and clear – it’s not if we catch you, it’s when.”

The councils published a list of those it successfully prosecuted, including: Jane Forbes, 60, of Dorchester Close, Abingdon, a cleaner for the NHS who failed to report a change in circumstances, leading to her being overpaid £2,075 in council tax benefit and £6,334 in housing benefit. She was given a community punishment order of 120 hours and forced to pay £150 costs.

Julie Dodsworth, 38, of Alder Close, Abingdon, who failed to report a change of circumstances when she started working for Oxfordshire County Council. She was overpaid council tax benefit of £941 and £4,033 in housing benefit. She was sentenced to a 60-hour community punishment order and £100 costs.

Marty Arrow-Cumbe, 19, a former police community support officer from Abingdon, who was caught receiving £881 in housing benefit overpayments. He was sentenced to a 12-month community punishment order of 100 hours’ unpaid work and £200 costs.

Martin Clark, formerly of The Murren, Wallingford, failed to declare he had found employment and was overpaid £4,031 in housing benefit and £581 council tax. He was given a 12-month community punishment order for 60 hours’ work and £200 costs.

Janet Ingram, of Lynmouth Road, Didcot, did not declare income from a second job and was overpaid £10,490 in housing benefit and £3,153 council tax benefit. She was sentenced to a 300-hour community punishment order and ordered to pay £200 costs.

Hayley Clayson, of The Meer, Benson, was overpaid £1,974 in housing benefit and £576 in council tax benefit after failing to declare she was receiving tax credits. She was given a six month conditional discharge with no costs.

Mary Mileham, of Panters Road, Cholsey, did not tell authorities she had found employment and was overpaid £1,004 in housing benefit and £268 in council tax benefit. She was given a 12 month community punishment order of 100 hours and £100 costs.

Paul Howden, revenues and benefits manager for the councils, said: “We are all victims of the benefit fraudsters who continue to pilfer from the public purse and divert cash from those who are genuinely in need.”

To report a benefit cheat in the districts, call the 24-hour hotline on 01235 540330.