Mother jailed after £52k benefit fraud
MOTHER-OF-ONE Tracy Skidmore has been jailed for eight months after making fraudulent benefit claims of more than £50,000.
The 36-year-old, from Malkin Way, Middleport, failed to notify the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) of changes in her circumstances.
Her offending spanned from October 2001 to August 2007, Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard yesterday.
Prosecutor Elizabeth Power, representing the DWP, said: "She failed to notify the DWP that she was living with her partner Alan Webb and then in May 2005, she married him."
Miss Power said the initial claim for income support in 2000 was legitimate but Skidmore failed to notify the authorities she was living with Mr Webb, a full-time bus driver between February 2004 and March 2007.
Skidmore was interviewed in February 2007 and said she had split from Mr Webb six years previously and he lived nearby.
But the DWP obtained Skidmore's marriage certificate which showed she married Mr Webb in May 2005.
The court was told she was overpaid £35,995.26 income support and £16,170.19 council tax and housing benefit.
Skidmore pleaded guilty to four charges of failing to notify the DWP about a change in her circumstances on May 1.
Carl Buckley, defending, conceded the £52,165.45 overpayment crossed the custody threshold. He said his client had a troubled personal history and her offending was not sophisticated.
"It was a legitimate claim that became false," he said. "The proceeds were not used to fund a lavish lifestyle, just general living expenses."
He added that Skidmore, who suffers with epilepsy, has a young child.
Judge Robert Trevor-Jones said he could only suspend the prison sentence if there were exceptional circumstances, which he said there were not.
11 Comments
View all
by tim, stoke
Saturday, June 06 2009, 5:51PM
“you greedy people 55k”
by wayne, longport
Tuesday, June 02 2009, 5:09PM
“I wonder if alistair darling will receive a custodial sentence for his offences of ripping off the taxpayers?
i seriously doubt it.”
by Mark, Stoke
Sunday, May 31 2009, 10:36PM
“She failed to notify the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) of changes in her circumstances.
Couldn't she just have said that she forgot. Then she would have been ok.
Oh I forgot, she's not an MP.”
by Warren, Meir
Sunday, May 31 2009, 9:28AM
“Thats right Judge, sling her in the nik, and when she comes out make her stump up all the cash back plus interent, and never alow her a penny off the state ever again. then she would have to get off her sorry a** and find a job. Trubeled personal history be blown, althought in all honsity,I do fell sorry if the woman is eperleptic, but I'm sure that the prison service can cope with that and keep her safe. As for the child, the court must be happy that it will get well cared for, or they would not be doing this, so all you do gooders keep your gobs out of this one. Hopefully,they will sling a few MPs in her cell with her.”
by mark, stoke
Saturday, May 30 2009, 9:24PM
“this is wrong no doubt so why are there no MP s in court for blatant corruption. They are our voice ,so I say we pay for them and 'a mistake' is not an excuse, Capital punishment for a capital crime by the highest powers. They should hang”
by mark clay, stoke
Saturday, May 30 2009, 9:19PM
“I don't agree with benefit fraud at all but as a tax payer I have to say why do Mps get away with this kind of thing and why are we not rebelling.”
by kev, northwood
Saturday, May 30 2009, 8:30PM
“I AM IN TOTAL ARGREEMENT WITH J.WOODWARD, IN FACT WHY DONT WE ALL HAVE A GREAT SPENDING SPREE AND CLAIM IT BACK LIKE OUR MPs DO, WHY HAVENT ANY OF THE GOVERMENT BEEN ARRESTED AND CHARGED WITH FRAUD LIKE JOE PUBLIC WOULD BE, BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY MPs ARE DOING EXACTLY WHAT TRACEY SKIDMORE AND MANY OTHERS HAVE DONE AND THEY HAVE ALL BEEN PUNISHED ONE WAY OR ANOTHER BUT THE MPs HAVENT NOW IS'T THAT A SUPRISE ITS ONE RULE FOR US AND ONE RULE FOR THEM”
by E.B., Stoke
Saturday, May 30 2009, 1:16PM
“Eight months for stealing £50thousand,she will probably do 4months, I will have some of that please,This sentence make stealing worthwhile.
I don't believe this sentence will put the benefit thieves off in any way at all.”
by John, Newcastle
Saturday, May 30 2009, 12:18PM
“Why does she not say it was a mistake then she could get away with it, just like the MPs.”
by J. Woodward, Kidsgrove
Saturday, May 30 2009, 10:28AM
“Well done to Ms Power and Judge Jones a clear example of a kangaroo court at work.
Ms Powers do you work for those spineless wonders the CPS? In light of recent events, I would have thought that both the police and CPS would be rushed off their feet recovering the countless thousands ripped off from the taxpayer by those alleged 'Honourable' MP's.
But I suppose if you can afford a barrister to present your case, the CPS generally back off. The outcome of this case makes a mockery of the legal system. The whole top tier of 'management' throughout this land appears to be corrupt and should be removed. This applies to HM revenue, customs, CPS and police alike.”