Benefits Cheat Escapes Jail With Suspended Sentence

A benefits cheat, who continued claiming taxpayers money by lying about her own wealth, has dodged jail with a suspended sentence.

Rita Hewlett, 55, (pictured) of Partridge Knoll, Purely, Croydon claimed income support and housing and council tax benefit for many years.

At Inner London Crown Court she was sentenced to sixteen months imprisonment, suspended for two years, placed on probation for twelve months and ordered to complete sixteen structured supervision for woman sessions.

She was charged with two counts of dishonestly making false statements on or about June 25, 2001 and January 22, 2005 in relation to income support applications, namely that she failed to declare she had excess capital.

Hewlett also faced seven similar charges of dishonestly making false statements on or about April 29 and May 15, 2000; May 11, 2001; April 6, 2002; April 7, 2003; October 30, 2011; November 2, 2011 in relation to housing benefit applications, namely that she failed to declare she had excess capital.

She was also charged that between November 24, 1998 and June 12, 2011 she evaded the liabilty to make a council tax payment of £12,258 to Croydon council and made a money transfer of £60,059, by deception, from the Department of Work and Pensions on March 26, 2002.

Hewlett also faced a charge of obtaining a £44,326 money transfer, by deception, from the Department of Work and Pensions.