Couple caught via Facebook in £30,000 tenancy fraud

Fraud investigators from Bury Council used a social networking site to catch a pair of benefit cheats.

Nicola Derbyshire had claimed Housing Benefit and Jobseekers Allowance at Bradley Lane, Bradley Fold as a single parent since October 2008. She had stated that her landlord was Adam Heard and that he was residing at a property in London.

However, their postings and updates on Facebook showed they were in a relationship and that Derbyshire had moved into Heard’s property at the start of their relationship. On her Facebook profile, Derbyshire described herself as being married to Heard and she posted photographs of a blessing they arranged with their families present in Cyprus.

Investigators carried out surveillance and spotted Heard leaving the property to go to work.

In June 2012, Derbyshire was arrested at the property and both she and Heard admitted making false claims for benefit totalling £30,175.

Derbyshire and Heard were sentenced at Bury Magistrates Court on 10 January 2013.

Heard, aged 41, was sentenced to a 12-month community order with 100 hours unpaid work, the New Direction Activity requirement of ten sessions and a 12-week curfew between 8pm and 5am. He was ordered to pay £491.50 towards costs, at a rate of £50 per month.

Derbyshire, aged 37, was sentenced to 12 weeks custody, suspended for one year. She was also required to undertake 200 hours unpaid work and also undertake ten sessions of the New Direction Activity requirement. She was ordered to pay costs in the sum of £569.20 at £50 per month. The couple will also be required to repay all the money they falsely claimed.

ENDS

Press release issued: 16 January 2013.