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Richmond benefits cheat ordered to pay back almost £5,000 in costs

Summary:

Lisa Warren falsely claimed Jobseekers Allowance, Income Support Council Tax and Housing benefit.

By SWLondoner staff

A Barnes resident has been given a 40 hour unpaid work community order and ordered to pay back over £4,700 after being found guilty of benefit fraud.

After an investigation from the Department of Work and Pensions, officers found that Lisa Warren falsely claimed Jobseekers Allowance, Income Support Council Tax and Housing benefit.

The Station Road resident claimed she was unemployed but it was found that she had been working in a pub since 2011, meaning she was overpaid £2,806 in Job Seekers Allowance, £595 in Income Support, £1,007 of Housing Benefit and £312.26 of Council Tax benefit.

Councillor Geoffrey Samuel, Richmond Coucil’s Deputy Leader, said he was delighted with the second successful prosecution in a couple of weeks.

“I cannot underline enough my anger and disgust at the very small number of people in this borough who think the rules do not apply to them,” he said.

“It is the honest majority who bear the cost of such fraud. We will always seek to prosecute those who think they can amass pots of cash while others, who are in genuine need, have to scrimp and save.

“My message to fraudsters is simple – we will investigate you. We will hunt you down. We will also prosecute.”

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