Bedford Woman Found Guilty of Benefit Fraud
Friday 3rd December
2010
An employer based in Bedford has recently
learnt that benefit fraud doesn’t pay. Sarah Weaver of Luton Road
and Director of KWS Education Services provided an employee with
false wage slips in order that the employee could claim Housing and
Council Tax Benefit. Her actions aided the employee, who cannot be
named for legal reasons, to fraudulently claim £3771.45 in benefits
in less than eight months!
Sarah Weaver pleaded guilty to ‘Fraud by False
Representation’ at Bedford Magistrates Court on Tuesday
30th October and was sentenced to a 12 months
conditional discharge and ordered to pay £100 in costs.
Cllr Colleen Atkins, Portfolio Holder for
Housing, Planning and Licensing commented: “Unfortunately, there
are some employers and employees who operate within a culture
where they see cheating the system as being acceptable.
This is definitely not the case and we want that
culture to change and that's a bigger battle than catching the
cheats.
Bedford Borough Council's benefit fraud
investigation team are particularly active and are
increasingly successful in bringing prosecutions. They will seek to
take the strongest possible action against employers found to be
colluding with their employees to fraudulently claim benefits. Not
only do we prosecute offenders but we also make sure that
fraudulent claims are repaid."