Successful prosecution of benefit fraud

A Shropshire landlord was sentenced for five housing benefit offences at Shrewsbury Magistrates Court this month.

Lawrence Hill, 60, was convicted under the Fraud Act 2006 on
Friday 7 January 2011.

He admitted cashing five housing benefit cheques belonging to his tenant, to whom the benefit was payable. The Oswestry landlord had cashed cheques to the value of £1,384.60. The court sentenced him to a 12 month conditional discharge.

The case was investigated by Shropshire Council’s benefit investigation team and the prosecution was brought by Shropshire Council.

Council Leader, Keith Barrow, who is also Cabinet member for resources and finance, said:

“The council takes benefit fraud very seriously and will take appropriate action against those who try and defraud the benefits system which exists to help those in need.”

People should contact the Fraud Hotline on 0345 678 9033 or the National Benefit Fraud Hotline on 0800 328 6340, if they have any suspicions about benefit fraud being committed.