Benefits cheat told to pay back £20,000

A benefits fraudster who wrongly claimed more than £20,000 has been ordered to pay the money back with interest or face a possible 18-month jail term.

Neil Hickman, of Ironstone Road in Chase Terrace, Burntwood, fraudulently claimed a total of £22,985 in council tax benefit from Lichfield District Council and income support from the Department of Work and Pensions. He was already subject to an 18-month community order.

He has now been handed a confiscation order under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

Hickman had repaid some of money claimed already but he will now have to pay the remainder plus interest.

The order was imposed at Stafford Crown Court last month for £2,251 council tax benefit and £19,432 income support, plus £1,701 interest – a total of £23,384.

If the full amount is not paid within six months, Hickman could face an 18-month prison sentence for defaulting, under the conditions of the order.

Hickman, 53, had previously pleaded guilty at Stafford Magistrates Court on January 18 to two charges of dishonestly failing to promptly notify each department of a change in his circumstances and was sentenced in March. The court heard that he did not declare that he had capital over the prescribed limits for claiming these benefits. Councillor Mike

Wilcox, leader of Lichfield District Council and finance chief, said: "This confiscation orders shows just how seriously the court takes fraud. We hope it will serve as a reminder to residents to make sure they are only claiming entitlements."

In another recent case, Kimberley Allen, of Brook Court in Lichfield, was overpaid £2,247 in housing benefit after failing to declare she was living with a partner.

The 28-year-old Allen pleaded guilty at Burton Magistrates' Court to one charge of failing to declare a change of circumstances promptly, and one charge of making a false representation in connection with her claim to housing benefit. Allen had to repay the money, was fined £115, and ordered to pay £350 costs and £15 victim surcharge.