Benefit cheat failed to reveal job
A BENEFIT cheat has been ordered to complete 120 hours of community service after failing to reveal he had a job.
Mark Burkill, 37, of Madeira Way, obtained a total 5,166.96 of housing and council tax benefits between October 20 2008 and July 12 2009.
He was no longer entitled to this money as he had started work for Asda Stores Ltd.
Mr Burkill pleaded guilty to failing to notify Eastbourne Borough Council of this change in circumstance which affected his entitlement to benefit.
He was sentenced at Eastbourne Magistrates Court to 120 hours unpaid work in the community. He was also ordered to pay court costs of 684.75 within 14 days.
He will also have to pay back the full amount of money he fraudulently received.
An Eastbourne Borough Council spokesperson said, "The council will not tolerate this type of fraud. We are actively pursuing claims that we believe may be fraudulent. Fraud affects everyone in Eastbourne.
"If we are aware of benefits being claimed incorrectly, we will seek to prosecute.
"We would like to remind members of the public, who are claiming benefits, that they should inform the benefits office of any changes, in circumstances, as soon as possible."
If you suspect that someone is claiming benefits that they should not be entitled to, do not hesitate to call the benefit fraud hotline by calling 0800 7317039.
This offers members of the public access to a hotline staffed by investigations officers during office hours and an answering service outside of these hours.
Or you can check out Eastbourne Borough Councils website at www.eastbourne.gov.uk/benefit-fraud for more details.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Bexhill-on-Sea
Tuesday 14 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 4 C to 8 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: North
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 3 C to 9 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: North west
