Fraudster found out and ordered to pay back money

The council's anti-fraud team has successfully taken another benefit fraudster to court.

The man, from Bushey, failed to declare money he held in a bank account that affected his entitlement to council tax benefit.  This resulted in an overpayment of council tax benefit of £5,394.39 made between 19 June 2000 and 17 August 2007.  He was charged with six counts of failing to declare having assets over £16,000 under section 111A(a) of the Social Security Administration Act 1992. 

During the trial at St Albans Magistrates Court it was revealed that he had held the account from the outset of his council tax benefit claim with a balance of well over £16,000.  He said that he had "ring-fenced" this money and did not consider it an asset hence the reason he did not declare it to the council.

He was found guilty of all the offences on 8 May and ordered to pay back the £5,394.39 obtained fraudulently and £200 costs for the prosecution.