Share

Benefit cheat nabbed by council fraud squad

A benefit cheat who fraudulently claimed almost £30,000 of council tax and housing benefits has been locked up for 10 months.

Jeanette Brown was snared by Aberdeen City Council’s Fraud Investigation Team after it received an anonymous tip-off about her nefarious activities.

Brown, formerly of Pentland Road, Aberdeen, admitted fraudulently obtaining £29,606.63 of state benefits and was jailed today by Sheriff Malcolm Garden when she appeared at the city’s sheriff court.

The Fraud Investigation team established that Brown, who had claimed to be single and was claiming benefits at the individual rates, was in fact living with her husband, Iain Brown, who was in full-time employment as a long-distance haulier.

The council’s fraud manager Brian Muldoon said: “This was a deliberate attempt to obtain state benefits to which Mrs Brown was not entitled. Had she not given false statements to Aberdeen City Council, this situation would not have occurred.

“I cannot stress enough that if you are claiming benefit you must declare all income and any changes in circumstance as this will allow the correct rate of benefit to be awarded.

“I welcome the sentence of 10 months which was imposed by Sheriff Garden and hope this sends out a clear message to anyone thinking about defrauding the welfare system.”

The total loss to the public purse was £29606.63, which will have to be repaid.

If you would like to report a benefit cheat, please call us on 08456 08 09 22.