Council catches benefit cheat

A benefit cheat who forged documents has been given a supervised community order and placed under a night-time curfew with an electronic tagging device.

47-year old Michael Fielden, of Wince Close, Middleton, tried to defraud Rochdale Council by making false claims for Housing Benefit, saying that he needed help to pay his rent.

He also claimed Council Tax Benefit because he said he lived alone and was on a low income. However, a fraud investigation discovered that Fielden owned his own home and his ‘landlady’ was in fact his wife who jointly owned the property.

Fielden had provided a false tenancy agreement, using his wife’s maiden name, with a forged signature of a witness who was completely unaware of the fraud.

He pleaded guilty and as well as having to remain in his home between 9pm and 6am for the next three months, he was sentenced to a 6-month supervised community order and ordered to pay £890 prosecution costs.

Councillor Greg Couzens, Council cabinet member for finance, said: “This was a serious and deliberate attempt to defraud the benefit system, which was thwarted by our fraud team. People who do this are potentially leaving every single council tax payer out of pocket – so we will continue to ensure that those who cheat the system – or attempt to - face the consequences."