Jail for benefits cheat who falsely claimed £60,000

Published by Ross Macmillan for 24dash.com in Housing

A London woman who falsely claimed more than £60,000 of benefits has been jailed for nine months.

Karen Black of Whiteleys Way, Richmond, had claimed to be living alone.

However, an anonymous tip off was received suggesting her real name was Karen Pithouse and that she had been living with her husband Gary Pithouse.

Mr Pithouse was working full time and the couple had enjoyed a “lavish lifestyle”, the court heard.

Mrs Black was jointly investigated and interviewed by both the council and Government investigators. Her claims for income support, housing benefit and council tax benefit were reassessed using the undeclared income of Mr Pithouse from November 2003 to November 2009.

The investigation found she had kept benefit payments worth more than £60,000 to which she was not entitled.

Appearing at Isleworth Crown Court in early January, Mrs Black was found guilty of three offences under the Theft Act 1968.

She returned to court on 27 January when she was sentenced to nine months’ imprisonment.

Cllr Geoffrey Samuel, Richmond Council’s Deputy Leader, said: “It is heinous that this woman lived a sumptuous lifestyle by lining her nest with ill-gotten wealth while others, who are in real need of help sit and suffer.

“Residents facing genuine difficulty and who rely on benefits will surely feel as strongly as we do that this is not right and I’m glad the judge imposed a stiff penalty. We will always prosecute people who try to sponge off society.”