Divorcee jailed for hiding settlement
Alison Wilson, aged 41, of Thornhill Road, Bentilee, falsely claimed more than £19,000 in income support, housing benefit and council tax benefit between May 2005 and October 2007.
She pleaded guilty to three charges of dishonesty and was sentenced at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court yesterday.
The court heard Wilson had been legitimately claiming for benefits because she was a single mum and unemployed for a number of years.
But in May 2005, her divorce money was deposited into a bank account which she had opened two days earlier. She failed to notify authorities about her change of circumstances.
Carl Hargan, prosecuting, said Wilson had made numerous cash withdrawals and deposited money into an ISA account.
He said she also appeared to have paid for a holiday costing just under £2,000 on July 14, 2005, and made withdrawals from cash machines in Spain totalling around £1,000.
He said Wilson's money had now all been spent but the authorities had no idea where it had gone.
He said: "There has been no voluntary repayment but £12 per week has been taken back from her housing benefit for 55 weeks."
Ali Anis, defending, said the offences had been largely due to naivety on Wilson's part and stressed the fact she had no previous convictions.
He said the money had largely been spent on home improvements and making life more comfortable for her children.
He said: "It seems she feels she was entitled to some kind of recompense after years of physical and emotional abuse from her husband.
"She did not understand that it was her responsibility to inform the authorities about a change in circumstances.
"She has acknowledged what she has done is wrong and is actively seeking employment. She remains petrified and certainly apprehensive about the possibility of facing prison."
Judge Robert Trevor-Jones said the divorce settlement had been a "substantial sum of money."
He said: " I do not accept that you failed to realise that it was a relevant factor that should have been brought to the authorities' attention.
"In 18 months that money was dissipated. Where it went I do not know. It disappeared without trace. Some was invested, much was withdrawn in cash, and there was a holiday or two."
Paul Bicknell, corporate fraud manager at Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: "If someone has more than £16,000 it means they're not entitled to benefits."
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