4:23pm Monday 15th March 2010
By Chris Hewett
A Bushey benefit fraudster, who conned Hertsmere Borough Council out of £35,000, has been forced to pay the money back and undertake community service.
Margaret Kigge, from Palmer Avenue, had failed to declare she was receiving a student bursary when she enrolled as a student nurse.
She was given an 18-month community order, for 200 hours of unpaid work, at Hemel Hempstead Magistrates' Court on Friday, March 5.
The council also received costs of £564.50.
Kigge, 50, had pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing, on February 19, to fraudulently obtaining the £15,751 in housing benefit, £2,912 in Council Tax benefit and £16,423 in income support.
Councillor John Graham, finance portfolio holder, said: "This case was brought to light by the National Fraud Initiative which makes checks on people claiming benefits.
“The council also makes its own checks and this should send a warning to those who are trying to cheat the system.
"If you claim benefits and your circumstances change you must tell us straight away.
"Hertsmere has zero tolerance for benefit fraud and we will continue to use all our powers to bring fraudsters to justice and recover money.”
The council is currently trying to make contact with her to make arrangements for the housing benefit to be paid back.
The Council Tax is added to her current bill and the Department for Work and Pensions will make its own arrangements for the repayment of income support.
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