Wolverhampton benefits cheat stole £17k from public purse

Peter Harris, aged 44, illegally claimed housing benefit, council tax benefit and Job Seekers Allowance before the DWP swooped following an anonymous tip-off.

Wolverhampton Magistrates Court heard that Harris applied to claim housing and council tax benefit in December 2011.

His claim was granted based on his entitlement to Job Seekers Allowance, which he had claimed since October 2011, and was subject to his living arrangements.

But on his application form he failed to mention he was living with Michelle Jones in Smallshire Close, Wednesfield, Wolverhampton, who had taken out a mortgage on the property in June 2011.

Instead Harris declared that another person was his landlord, the court was told. This made his benefits claims fraudulent.

Mr Robert Marshall, prosecuting on behalf of Wolverhampton City Council, said further evidence gathered from electoral registration documents and TV licensing authorities proved the couple were living together.

"In January 2013 EDF Energy confirmed Michelle Jones as the named subscriber of the address in Smallshire Close and confirmed that both the gas and electric supply started on October 14, 2011," the prosecutor continued.

"On November 6, 2013, an online submission was received at Wolverhampton City Council's council tax department verifying that she no longer lived alone and another person was residing at the address."

He added that in reality Harris had lived with Miss Jones at the address for a much longer period than he had stated.

The court was told this meant Harris was not entitled to Job Seekers Allowance, which he fraudulently claimed to the tune of £12,060.86 between October 2011 and February 2013.

He was also overpaid £5,321.24 in housing and council tax benefit from October 2011 to November 2012, making a total overpayment of £17,382.10.

His crooked behaviour was rumbled following an investigation that was sparked by an anonymous call to Wolverhampton City Council's fraud investigation team.

Mr Marshall said the authority did not believe Harris's claims were fraudulent from the outset.

The defendant's counsel asked the court for reports to be prepared into his client's circumstances prior to sentencing.

Harris, of Smallshire Close, Wednesfield, admitted two counts of failing to notify a change of circumstances affecting entitlement to benefits payments. He was bailed to appear at the same court to be sentenced on March 4.