Christine Henson successfully prosecuted on behalf of the Council and Department of Work and Pensions a two-week trial where both Defendants were convicted on indictment of 14 counts of benefit fraud. The couple had fraudulently claimed income support, housing and council tax benefit which resulted in £80,000 of benefit being overpaid between 2003 and 2010. They had falsely presented themselves as a lone parent family.
After a unanimous verdict, both defendants were sentenced to immediate imprisonment for a term of two years. The evidence included that from numerous neighbours from the three relevant addresses as well as from employers. There was also a wealth of complex expert financial evidence demonstrating the link between the finances of the two Defendants.
