18 month conditional discharge for benefit cheat

Charlene Wardle of Boarshaw Road, Middleton has received an 18 month conditional discharge after admitting claiming benefits totalling £3886.83 as a single parent when she actually lived with her partner.

Wardle (23) claimed income support, housing benefit and council tax benefit as a single parent. She was interviewed by fraud investigators from Rochdale Borough Council and the Department for Work and Pensions after an allegation that she had failed to declare her partner was living with her. After being confronted with surveillance evidence Wardle admitted her partner had moved in with her in January 2009.

Wardle attended Manchester Magistrates Court on 5 February 2010 where she admitted defrauding tax payers of £2681.11 in housing benefit and council tax benefit and £1205.82 in income support. She was given an 18 month conditional discharge. She will also have to repay all the monies she fraudulently claimed.

Councillor Liz Thirsk, Cabinet Member for Townships and Corporate Management said:  "Once again we have successfully prosecuted another benefit cheat stealing from the honest taxpayers of the borough. This case shows how seriously we take it when people mislead the authority. It is a warning to anyone thinking of doing the same. You will be caught and prosecuted if you take benefits you are not entitled to."

If you know someone who’s committing benefit fraud, you can report it in confidence on 0800 328 6340 or on the council website at:

www.rochdale.gov.uk/online