Woman jailed for Knowsley benefit fraud
17 April 2009
A mother of three from Knowsley who
fraudulently claimed nearly £27,000 in benefits has been jailed for
six months.
Liverpool Crown Court heard that Andrea
Coltman claimed Income Support, Housing Benefit and Council Tax
Benefit as a single parent.
But she had failed to declare that she had
been living with her partner, who was in paid employment.
A joint investigation by Knowsley Council and
the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) revealed the couple had
been living together for three years, in Lakenheath Road,
Halewood.
Ms Coltman admitted her dishonesty when
interviewed by Council and DWP fraud investigators in 2007.
She said the relationship was unstable and,
when she was interviewed, her partner had been in prison for a few
months, which had caused them to separate.
The court was told Ms Coltman, who is 33, had
several previous convictions for theft and had broken several
curfew orders.
Judge Holloway passed sentence on Ms Coltman
today (Wednesday). She had admitted fraudulently claiming a
total of £26,942.31 at an earlier hearing.
Cllr Norman Keats, Knowsley’s Cabinet Member
for Finance and IT, said: “The result of this investigation should
send a clear message to everyone that Knowsley will not tolerate
benefit cheats and those caught will be placed before the
courts.
“We work closely with the DWP to share
information about those suspected of fraud and to gather evidence
for prosecutions.
“The reason we take such a hard line is
because we realise that every pound which goes into a fraudsters
pocket is a pound that could have been spent on schools, sports
centres, parks, and other facilities that benefit the whole
community.
”I would encourage anyone who is claiming
benefit and has a change of circumstances to declare this at the
earliest opportunity.”
Anyone with information about benefit fraud in
Knowsley can call the Council’s Fraud Hotline on 0800 073 0532. If
you need to inform Knowsley Council about a change of
circumstances, please call 0151 443 4042 or call into your nearest
One Stop Shop.
For more information, contact KMBC
communications department on 0151 443 3537