Welfare Sponger Puts Son Through Private School

A benefits cheat sent her son to private school with money she should have declared to the Department of Works and Pensions, a court heard today.

Pallavi Patel, 56, of Marston Way, Upper Norwood, South London had £22,000 in a bank account under her control while pocketing unlawful income support payments totalling £9.771.

She pleaded guilty at Croydon Crown Court (pictured) of failing to notify the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) of a change of circumstances between April 5, 2005 and July 21, 2008, namely her capital excess.

The court heard divorcee Patel began claiming income support in May 1998 and was obliged to report any change in her circumstances to the DWP

In July 2007 a matching service referal ordered by the department revealed savings above the threshold of benefits entitlement in Patel's bank account.

All benefit payments were frozen and the defendant took legal advice to recoup money she believed she was still entitled to.

Her lawyer told the court Patel, who is making modest repayments to the department, was saving money donated by family for her son's education and it all had been spent in private school fees.

The DWP are pursuing Patel for compensation under Proceeds of Crime Act legislation.

"She is a woman of very very limited resources," her lawyer told the court. "The prosecution authorities are putting her through this ordeal in what will be a futile exercise."

Sentencing her to a twelve month community order with 80 hours community service work the Recorder of Croydon Warwick McKinnon told Patel: "You pleaded guilty to a serious offence. It is an offence of dishonesty.

"The destination of this money was for your son's education.

"You used some of it and paid it back. It was in your sole name and it is clear it should have been declared.

"You have not benefitted from the failure to notify a change of circumstances," added the Judge. "You have not spent the money in the account on lavish living."