Benefit cheat mum who fraudulently claimed over £27,000 escapes jail (From Croydon Guardian)

Benefit cheat mum who fraudulently claimed over £27,000 escapes jail

3:40pm Thursday 7th March 2013 in News

A mum who claimed over £27,000 in benefits as a single parent, while living with her estranged husband has escaped jail.

Lisa Daniel formerly of Auckland Rose, Upper Norwood, received housing and council tax benefit, as well as income support after telling Croydon Council she lived alone.

The 39-year-old, who now lives in Exeter, fraudulently claimed benefits worth £27,231.59 between August 2006 and October 2009.

Her fraud came to light after an anonymous tip off, which led to a joint investigation by Croydon Council and the Department for Work and Pensions.

Daniel pleaded guilty to two charges of fraudulently claiming the benefits when she appeared at Croydon Magistrates on January 4, and last week was sentenced to 16 weeks in prison, suspended for 18 months.

She was also ordered to carry out 180 hours of unpaid work and £1,000 in court costs.

The council is now recovering the benefit overpayment.

Councillor Dudley Mead, deputy leader of the council said: "Benefit fraud is taking money from the taxpayers’ purse and in this case it was over a significant period of time.

"We will always investigate and as in this example, we will come down hard on those who cheat the benefits system."