Couple pay the price for benefit fraud
A COUPLE who claimed almost �4,000 in benefits to which they were not entitled have been prosecuted.
Sean O’Reilly, 46, and Joanna O’Reilly, 42, of Alder Drive, Cambourne pleaded guilty at Cambridge Magistrates Court after failing to inform the authorities of a change of circumstances when Mr O’Reilly started working full-time at a Royston hotel in July 2009.
When questioned under caution, Mrs O’Reilly claimed not to know that her husband was working, and instead thought he was making daily visits to see family in London. Mr O’Reilly also stated under caution that he had not told his wife he was working.
An investigation, sparked by a tip-off to South Cambridgeshire District Council, discovered that Mr O’Reilly had been working at the hotel. The couple had been overpaid a total of �3,913 in council tax benefits, which the district council is already in the process of recovering.
In addition, they will each do 80 hours unpaid work, and foot the bill for the council’s costs.
You may also want to watch:
Cllr Simon Edwards, the district council’s cabinet member for finance, said: “Fraud takes valuable funds away from vulnerable members of the community who are in real need of support.
“As a Council we take a hard line on tracking down those trying to beat the system and would urge everyone in South Cambridgeshire to help us tackle the crime by reporting their suspicions. You don’t even need to give us your name.”
Most Read
- 1 'Father' found guilty of murdering his teenage daughter
- 2 What’s on at community cinema Royston Picture Palace this summer
- 3 Person dies after being struck by train in Cambridge
- 4 'A day none of us will forget' - Princess Anne visits Lister Hospital
- 5 RAF Red Arrows and Typhoon dazzle crowds at Duxford Summer Air Show
- 6 Sir Tom Jones set for green, green grass of Newmarket Racecourses
- 7 Bassingbourn Barracks: New chapter for Army’s flagship operational training centre
- 8 Access between platforms to be restored at Royston station
- 9 Arrests made in connection with large-scale money laundering operation
- 10 Police hunt 36-year-old wanted for harassment and restraining order breaches
To discuss a claim with the district council, call 03450 450 061. To report potential fraud please visit www.scambs.gov.uk/benefitfraud, email benefitfraud@scambs.gov.uk, or call 0800 7311892.
