Benefit cheat jailed for £60K fraud

A Littleborough woman who spent eight years falsely claiming over £60,000 in benefits has been sentenced to 15 months in prison.

Manchester Crown Court heard how Tracy Walker, 43, of Todmorden Road, Littleborough, lied about being single to secure Income Support, Employment and Support Allowance, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit between June 2004 and October 2012.

A joint investigation by Rochdale Borough Council and the Department for Work and Pensions uncovered the deception following an anonymous tip that Walker had been living with her estranged husband, Nigel Walker.

Mrs Walker denied to investigators that she had rekindled a relationship with her husband, who was working and therefore meant she was not eligible for any benefits. However, she was adjudged to have claimed dishonestly and her benefits were withdrawn.

After losing two appeals, Walker pleaded not guilty to three charges of obtaining benefits by false representation at an initial hearing at Manchester and Salford Magistrates Court in June 2013.

Walker then changed her plea to guilty at the start of the trial at Manchester Crown Court, and on February 27 2014 she was sentenced to 15 months in prison and ordered to repay £61,500.

Cllr Jonathan Burns, Interim Portfolio Holder for Finance at Rochdale Borough Council, said: “The prison sentence reflects the seriousness of both the initial fraud and the subsequent attempt to escape justice. I hope this sends the message that benefit fraud will not be tolerated; we take it very seriously indeed and the consequences can be severe.”

[ENDS]

For more information on this story or to arrange an interview, please contact
Rochdale Council News desk on 01706 926 002, or email newsdesk@rochdale.gov.uk

Notes to Editor:

Charges

1.TRACY ANN WALKER on 08/06/2004 at Rochdale, with a view to obtaining for yourself Income Support, dishonestly made a statement or representation to the Department for Work and Pensions which was false, namely that the information given was correct and complete, whereas you were living as the partner of Nigel Walker, who was in employment and able to support you Contrary to section 111A(1)(a) and (3) of the Social Security Administration Act 1992.

2.TRACY ANN WALKER on 20/04/2009 at Rochdale, with a view to obtaining for yourself Council Tax
Benefit, dishonestly made a statement or representation to Rochdale Council which was false, namely that the information given was correct and complete, whereas you were living as the partner of Nigel Walker, who was in employment and able to support you Contrary to section 111A(1)(a) and (3) of the Social Security Administration Act 1992.

3.TRACY ANN WALKER on 20/04/2009 at Rochdale, with a view to obtaining for yourself Housing Benefit, dishonestly made a statement or representation to Rochdale Council which was false, namely that the information given was correct and complete, whereas you were living as the partner of Nigel Walker, who was in employment and able to support you Contrary to section 111A(1)(a) and (3) of the Social Security Administration Act 1992.