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Seven years for serial benefit fraudster
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A man who illegally claimed benefits from Bournemouth Council
while living elsewhere has been sentenced to seven years in prison
for committing fraud.
Billy Halliwell, who also used the name Billy Mitchell, submitted a
fraudulent housing and council tax benefit claim for a Southbourne
property from May to July 2009 while claiming benefit from West
Somerset Council at the same time.
Bournemouth Council submitted a witness statement about the claim
following contact from the Department for Work and Pensions Fraud
Investigation Service who suspected Mr Halliwell of defrauding a
number or organisations including Bournemouth and West Somerset
Councils.
Speaking after the case, Councillor John Beesley, Cabinet Member
for Resources said: “It is good to see that justice has been
done and that this man has been made to pay for his crime.
"I would like to acknowledge the joint work of the council’s
revenues and benefits team and the Department for Work and Pensions
in reaching a positive outcome.”
Mr Halliwell appeared in Brighton Crown Court on 27 January 2010
where he pleaded guilty and was sentenced on 13 charges for Making
False Representations, False Declarations and Retaining Wrongful
Credits to Department for Work and Pensions, West Somerset Council
and Bournemouth Borough Council.
He was sent to prison for seven years for these and many other
offences.
