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Worthing man prosecuted for benefit fraud

Released: 18 Jan 2012

Mr Gavin Fett attended Worthing Magistrates court on 17 January 2012 and pleaded guilty to a total of six matters of dishonestly making false statements to obtain Job Seekers Allowance and Council Tax Benefit, contrary to section 111A of the Social Security Administration Act 1992.

He was sentenced to a 12 month Community Order on condition that he completes 180 hours unpaid work. He was also ordered to pay the full amount of £688.95 prosecution costs incurred by Worthing Borough Council.

The court heard that Mr Fett of Church Walk, Worthing, first claimed Job Seekers Allowance and Council Tax Benefit in April 2008. Between April 2008 and October 2010 he submitted eight applications to Worthing Borough Council and The Department of Works and Pensions. His entitlement to claim these benefits was based upon his being unemployed and having no more than £4000 at any given time in his declared Nat West bank account.

Following a detailed investigation undertaken jointly by both Authorities, a number of additional bank accounts were identified. Copy statements obtained for these undeclared accounts confirmed that at the time of the initial applications submitted in April 2008, the funds held in them had been in excess of £100,000.

The total capital held in these accounts at the time of a second claim made in April 2010 was £46,843.41. The total capital held at the time of a subsequent claim made in August 2010 was £34,415.

The balance was still in excess of the £16,000 limit permitted in January 2011, when Council Tax Benefit was withdrawn due to Mr Fett finding full-time employment.

As a result Mr Fett received £1244.16 Council Tax Benefit and £2421.38 Job Seekers Allowance, making a total of £3665.54 benefits received to which he was not entitled.

He has since repaid these amounts in full.

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