Gran avoids prison over £36k fraud

A grandmother from Wolverhampton who cheated taxpayers out of more than £36,000 has avoided an immediate jail term.

Rose Robertson, of Bilston, falsely claimed £36,623.93 in income support, housing benefit and council tax benefit.

The claims were made over a five-year period.

At Wolverhampton Crown Court yesterday, the 38-year-old was sentenced to 40 weeks in prison, suspended for 18 months.

The court heard how the grandmother had falsely claimed more than £26,000 in income tax and £10,681 in housing and council tax benefit between January 2003 and July 2008. But Robertson, of Julie Croft, had failed to tell the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) she was actually living with her husband and admitted two counts of failing to notify a change in circumstances.

Ms Laura Hobson, prosecuting, told the court: "This wasn't a fraudulent claim from the outset but it was over a significant period."

Mr Colin McCarragher, defending, said: "She has always maintained she didn't really understand the full criminality of what she was doing at the time but she does appreciate that now," he said.

Recorder James Burbidge QC spared Robertson an immediate jail term but said: "I don't accept you do not appreciate how serious your offending was.

"I think you well knew that you were abusing the benefits system so you have not pulled the wool over my eyes."

The Recorder also ordered Robertson be supervised for 18 months. DWP spokeswoman Lucy King said the organisation was tightening its grip on benefit cheats.

She added: "With the help of the public using our National Benefit Fraud hotline on 0800 854440, we are closing in on benefit thieves and stopping them."