DO NOT BANK ON GETTING AWAY WITH IT

Published by webmaster for South Bedfordshire District Council in Communities

A Dunstable man has been fined £1250.00 and ordered to pay £203.94 in costs after being found guilty of not making a full declaration of his circumstances when claiming Council Tax Benefit.

Robert Simmons of Maidenbower Avenue, Dunstable appeared at Luton Magistrates’ Court on Monday (11 June), following an investigation by South Bedfordshire District Council into claims he made for Council Tax Benefit.

Mr Simmons pleaded guilty to a charge of knowingly furnishing false documents to support his claim.

The case came to light following a data-matching exercise that identified Mr Simmons as having failed to declare several bank accounts when making his claim for Council Tax Benefit resulting in his being overpaid benefit amounting to just over £1600.00.

Councillor Philip Penman, Portfolio Holder for the Benefits Service at the council said: “South Bedfordshire District Council takes the prevention and detection of benefit fraud very seriously. Those found to be committing such acts will be vigorously pursued through the courts system along with having to repay the amount that they have wrongly claimed”.

If you know of anyone who may be claiming benefits falsely please contact the benefit fraud hotline on 01582 474162.

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Press release issued: June 12 2007