Benefit fraudsters taken to court (From Oxford Mail)

Benefit fraudsters taken to court

6:00pm Friday 13th April 2012 in Banbury

TWO benefit fraudsters have been sentenced by magistrates.

The pair were prosecuted by Cherwell District Council in the past month.

At Banbury Magistrates’ Court on Friday, March 30, Nanette Watts admitted making false claims for housing and council tax benefit to the tune of £3,698.

The 56-year-old, of Beverley Gardens, Bicester, was ordered to do 40 hours’ unpaid work and pay £100 costs.

Two weeks earlier, Vincent Mark admitted fraudulently claiming £2,857.94 in housing benefit. The 50-year-old, of Evenlode, Banbury, was fined £120, a £15 victims’ surcharge and £250 costs.

Both have been told to pay back the money they claimed.

Karen Curtin, the council’s head of finance and procurement, said: “I would urge anyone claiming benefits to declare when they have a change in circumstances. Overtime or changes in their household can all affect the amount they are eligible to claim.”

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