Mrs Donna King attended Lewes Crown Court on 23rd January 2014 for sentencing on eight counts of benefit fraud committed between January 2009 and March 2012.
At an earlier Crown Court hearing Mrs King had pleaded guilty to these offences committed against The London Borough of Croydon, Worthing Borough Council and The Department for Work and Pensions in order to claim Employment Support Allowance, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit contrary to sections 111A of the Social Security Administration Act 1992.
As a result of this fraudulent activity Mrs King had received a total amount of £35,464.35 in Benefits to which she was not entitled.
His Honour Judge Tain heard that Mrs King, 42, of Meadow Crescent, Worthing, claimed Employment Support Allowance, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit at the address in 2010, by claiming that she was a lone parent. She had previously made similar benefit claims to The London Borough of Croydon, whilst living in Fullerton Road, Croydon.
Benefits had been awarded to her based upon the information she provided on her benefit claim forms.
Following a lengthy and detailed investigation undertaken jointly by Investigators from The Department for Work and Pensions and Worthing Borough Council, it was established that Mrs King had been hiding her correct living arrangements from the Authorities.
It was identified that her husband Adrian King had been living at the Meadow Crescent property with his wife since 2010, when they completed a house swap from the Croydon area. It was established that Mr King had also been in residence with her at the Croydon address.
It was also identified that Mr King had been in full-time employment throughout the period of these claims.
Further evidence of his residence was obtained by the Investigators during an early morning raid at the Meadow Crescent address on 27th March 2012. On that date Mr and Mrs King were arrested by officers from Sussex Police who were also in attendance. They were later interviewed by the Benefit Investigators in the Custody Suite at Centenary House, Worthing.
Mrs King was sentenced to 15 months imprisonment for each count, suspended for two years. The Judge did not impose any conditions to this sentence due to Mrs Kings’ ongoing health problems.
There was no order for costs given as Mrs King is currently undertaking financial arrangements to repay the overpaid benefit.