11:19am Tuesday 27th July 2010
By Jonathan Portlock
A woman from Claygate who ripped off the taxpayer by claiming benefits while she had a job will have to pay the money back, a court has told her.
Maria Fernanda Abreu-Ferro, who lives in The Roundway, pleaded guilty at Staines Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, July 7, to failing to notify the Department for Work and Pensions and Elmbridge Council about a change of circumstances.
Between April 2008 and June 2009, Abreu-Ferro claimed £5,851.77 in income support and housing and council tax benefit, even though she was employed at the time and therefore not entitled to the money, the court was told.
Magistrates sentenced her to 40 hours of unpaid work and a community penalty order for 12 months.
She was also ordered to pay £100 in costs, on top of the falsely laimed money she will have to pay back. Just over half of this money is owed to the council, with the remainder payable to the Government department.
Councillor James Browne, portfolio holder for housing at Elmbridge Council, welcomed the legal action brought against Abreu-Ferro, and warned others against similar benefit fraud.
He said: “This case is another example of Elmbridge Council’s robust attitude towards benefit cheats. They will get a criminal record and we will recover the money to which they were not entitled.”
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