Wallasey woman sentenced for benefit fraud

A Wallasey woman has pleaded guilty to dishonestly claiming over £17,000 in housing and council tax benefit.

Christina Twigg from Clarence Road, Wallasey, failed to disclose savings which she held in numerous bank and building society accounts between April 2001 and November 2005.

Twigg, 46, pleaded guilty to 6 offences of dishonesty at Birkenhead Magistrates Court in February, and asked for a further 8 offences to be taken into consideration.

In sentencing Twigg to a community punishment order of 240 hours for each offence to run concurrently, the Chair of the Bench, Mr Michael Warriner gave credit to the defendant’s early guilty plea. He pointed out that a custodial sentence had been considered but had decided to recommend a community punishment order in light of the pre-sentence report completed by The Probation Service.

In addition to the community punishment order, Twigg was order to pay costs of £300 and a collection Order was imposed.

Speaking immediately after the hearing, the Assistant Director of Finance at Wirral Council, Malcolm Flanagan said: "This case is yet another example of the readiness of Wirral Council to successfully investigate and prosecute false benefit claims.  The Authority is committed to stamping out fraud and ensuring that Housing and Council Tax Benefit is paid only to those who are genuinely entitled to receive it.

“Benefit fraud costs Wirral people dearly and in the fight against fraud we rely heavily on public support.  Anyone who has any suspicions of benefit fraud can either call the fraud hotline number on 0800 7315783 or email us on hben.fraudunit@wirral.gov.uk.”

Ends

Press release issued: March 13 2007