Benefit Cheat Landlady Sentenced For Pocketing £15K

A notorious benefit cheat, who lied about rents collected from tenants at her seven-bedroom detached suburban home, saw her son's promising rugby career with Bath derailed after the club discovered the fraud, she claims.

Lynne Hampson, 52, whose 14-stone winger son Sam Hampson, 24, has played for London Wasps and London Irish, was eventually sentenced yesterday, over four years after pleading guilty.

The first-time offender admitted failing to notify a change in her personal circumstances between December 27, 2002 and June 19, 2007 in relation to an income support claim, resulting in a loss of £15,843.26p to the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP).

She also pleaded guilty to failing to notify a change in her personal circumstances between May 28 and June 10, 2006 in relation to a council tax benefit claim, resulting in a loss of £48.26p to the London Borough of Sutton.

Hampson told the DWP she only charged tenants £20 per week, but was renting out rooms at the property, which has a swimming pool in its 120-foot back garden, for £480-£540 per month.

During the five-year scam Hampson converted her loft with the illicit profits, adding three bedrooms to the house in Langley Avenue, Worcester Park, almost doubling her rental capacity.

There has been a four-year plus sentencing delay due to Hampson twice unsuccessfully applying to withdraw her guilty pleas, failing to co-operate with the probation service and petitioning the Social Security Tribunal to reduce her unlawful claim from an initial figure of over £45,000.

She achieved local notoriety after the council published her conviction and her lawyer Mr. David Burgess said: "It was picked-up by local newspapers and she has been subjected to a four-year campaign of harassment and criminal damage.

"For her the criminal record is a very, very serious thing and her son, a professional rugby player's signing with Bath was declined because a Google search revealed this woman's prosecution for fraud on the London Borough of Sutton's website."

Bedsit Land: The Sutton Property

Following a tip-off from a disgruntled ex-tenant in 2007 Sutton Council's fraud investigation team worked with the DWP to gather evidence and prosecute Hampson.

She initially denied the fraud, but on the first day of her trial in December, 2009 she eventually admitted the two charges.

Hampson did not surrender to the glass-panelled secure dock due to agoraphobia, which can instigate panic attacks and Mr. Burgess added: "This lady has had a number of problems throughout her life, not just her physical and mental well-being, but generally surviving."

A doctor described her as someone: "trapped in the hopelessness of her situation, which is taking a toll on her health."

The court heard she has depression, anxiety, arthritis, early dementia and Mr. Burgess said: "Her condition has been aggravated by these proceedings, which has not improved her mental state."

Surf & Turf: Pool and Garden

Another report described her as: "paranoid and vulnerable" and concluded: "people take advantage of her with her willing participation."

Judge Daniel Flahive sentenced Hampson to twenty-eight days imprisonment, suspended for twelve months, telling her: "The sums involved came about because you did not declare properly rental income you received from lodgers.

"When probation officers spoke to you, you did not do yourself any favours. Yesterday was the first time documentation was produced to the court confirming that you do have these medical conditions."