Woman admits £56,000 benefit theft

Money

A woman from Heywood has narrowly avoided a prison sentence after being charged with falsely claiming £56,000 of benefits.

Gaynor Meppen-Walters, 35, now of Bury New Road, Heywood, but previously of Higher Lomax Lane, Heywood, pleaded guilty to six charges of dishonestly making false statements, and failing to notify Rochdale Borough Council and the Department of Work and Pensions that she was living with her partner who was in full time employment, in order to gain benefit payments.

Miss Meppen-Walters claimed Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit, Income Support and Job Seekers Allowance totalling £56,361.46 over a 6 year period, although she knew she was not entitled to claim.

She admitted the offences during an interview under caution, following a proactive exercise by Rochdale Borough Council Fraud Investigators who worked jointly with colleagues from the Department for Work and Pensions. Miss Meppen-Walters was subsequently prosecuted by the council.

At Bolton Crown Court, Judge Morris sentenced Gaynor Meppen-Walters to a six month suspended jail sentence, suspended for 2 years. She was also ordered to do 150 hours unpaid work, to be carried out over 12 months.

Councillor Farooq Ahmed, Cabinet Member for Finance said: "This is the latest case that proves neither the council nor the court takes benefit fraud lightly. By abusing the system, benefit cheats take money that should be going to people who are entitled to it and need it the most. Those attempting to beat the system do get caught, and there is a real possibility they could go to prison."