Former Rochdale man admits benefit fraud

A former Rochdale man has admitted five charges of dishonestly claiming benefits totalling more than £6,400

Paul Dowling 47, of Fillace Park, Devon, pleaded guilty when he appeared at Rochdale Magistrates Court on 24 February 2010.

Dowling admitted claiming £6,459.19 in Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit that he wasn’t entitled to, whilst living at Carnforth Street, Rochdale.

An investigation by Rochdale Borough Council’s fraud team found he’d failed to declare his student loan income which he had received since 2005 as well as his partner’s NHS Bursary she had received since 2007. In additional he had failed to declare the bank accounts the monies were paid into.

Dowling was interviewed under caution by investigators from the council regarding his undeclared student loan income and undeclared bank accounts and following the interview, additional evidence came to light indicating that Dowling had still failed to declare his true circumstances. He was interviewed under caution for a second time but still denied the charges.

Dowling attended Court on 24 February 2010 where he pleaded guilty to four charges of dishonestly making false statements to obtain benefit and one charge of dishonestly failing to notify Rochdale Borough Council of a change in his circumstances. Dowling was given a 12-month community order with a 3-month long 9pm-6am curfew.