A prosecution brought by Cotswold District Council has resulted in a 26 week jail sentence for a benefit fraudster. This is CDC’s twelfth successful prosecution within the last year.
Mr Robert Gleed, price aged 68, treat from Condicote appeared at Gloucester Crown Court on Thursday 7 May for sentencing. Mr Gleed had previously appeared in court to plead guilty to fraud charges, mind admitting that he had claimed over £43,336 worth of Housing and Council tax benefit payments despite holding savings of just under £90,000 in various accounts.
Mr Gleed was interviewed under caution on 30 October 2014 and stated that his benefit claims were valid as he and his wife only held savings worth £8,000. However, when confronted with evidence that the couple actually held almost £90,000 and had not declared it, Mr Gleed acknowledged that he had been dishonest, and could give no reason for his actions. It was also pointed out that he had successfully applied for Discretionary Housing Payments (additional top up funds) during the claim, which compounded the dishonesty.
The judge noted that Mr Gleed had pleaded guilty at the previous hearing but, noting the severity of the offence, he sentenced him to 26 weeks imprisonment.
The Council is now working with Mr Gleed to recoup the money which was claimed fraudulently.
Cotswold District Council’s Strategic Director, Frank Wilson, was very pleased with the outcome:
“Honest people realise that the benefits system is a vital safety net for those in need, and anyone who uses it illegally to ‘feather their nest’ will eventually pay a heavy price. Experts have numerous ways of detecting benefit fraud, and the officer at CDC who uncovered this recent attempt was particularly alert. This type of investigative work helps to safeguard our public finances and ensure that benefits are awarded to those in real need. Anyone who suspects that people might be abusing the system should tip off the Council by calling 01285 623762 or by reporting the suspected fraud online at /residents/council-tax/benefits/report-benefit-fraud/”
This is the third time this year that CDC has taken benefit fraudsters to court and won the case – and the twelfth successful prosecution since April 2014. This year, Caroline Foxley received an 8 month sentence in January when she claimed about £20,000 in benefits despite having £250,000 in an offshore bank account. Additionally, Karen Hardiman and Roger Cross were jailed for 16 weeks and 26 weeks respectively in April after making illegal claims for £80,000 worth of benefits after their circumstances had changed.