Woman lied to claim £5k in benefits

A woman was overpaid almost £5,000 in benefits after failing to reveal she had a job, a court heard.

Abba Swann-Flint continued to receive housing and council tax benefit despite finding work through job agency Pertemps and at Sainsbury's.

The 26-year-old from Fernwood Croft, Tipton, admitted two counts of benefit fraud at West Bromwich Magistrates Court. Kate Simms, prosecuting on behalf of Sandwell Council yesterday, told the court an investigation discovered that Swann-Flint had begun working around November 2007.

She attended an interview in April last year where she agreed that any changes in her circumstances should have been notified.

She stated that her employment should have been declared, but she had not, and added that she had not undertaken any employment other than through Pertemps.

Miss Simms said Swann-Flint was then asked to provide bank details to the investigation team and through further checks it was discovered that she had worked at Sainsbury's in around May 2007, which she had also failed to declare.

The court heard she was overpayed £4,634.21 and had so far paid back £50.82 in housing benefit.

Suki Thumber, defending Swann-Flint, said: "It is accepted that she didn't declare the Sainsbury's employment and that has been found out by the department after she submitted the bank statement.

"She was quite open and honest in doing that."

Miss Thumber added that Swann-Flint and her partner were not earning vast amounts of money from this employment and living a lavish lifestyle.

Richard Brooks, presiding magistrate, said: "These are very serious matters.

"In our eyes this is a sizeable sum of money and the court takes a very dim view of dishonesty and I'm sure that you will learn from this experience that dishonesty doesn't pay, it costs quite dearly."

The hearing was adjourned until July 6 for pre-sentence reports.