South Oxhey benefit cheat fraudulently claimed £58,000 (From Watford Observer)

South Oxhey benefit cheat fraudulently claimed £58,000

5:26pm Wednesday 4th July 2012 in News By Adam Binnie, Senior Reporter

A woman from South Oxhey who fraudulently claimed nearly £60,000 of benefits from Three Rivers District Council has been given a suspended sentence and ordered to pay the money back.

Maria Rivoallan pleaded guilty to four charges which relate to dishonestly failing to report changes in her circumstances to the Department for Work and Pensions between 2002 and 2009.

This included failing to report that she had a partner living with her who was in full time work, and that she herself had also been working.

She was overpaid a total of £58,000 in income support, housing and council tax benefit.

The 31-year-old, from Birstall Green, was given an eight month prison sentence suspended for 18 months and ordered to undertake 120 hours’ unpaid work, following a hearing at St Albans Crown Court on Monday.

She will have to repay all of the money and a confiscation order has been asked for by the court.