Friday 18 May 2018

Benefit Cheat Admits Continuing Claims When Abroad

A woman who continued claiming four different benefits while abroad during a three-and-a-half year scam, admitted the offences today.

Lorraine Thomas, 60, of Bevington Road, North Kensington claims she had to flee the UK due to violent domestic abuse.

She will return to Southwark Crown Court for sentencing on June 22.

Thomas pleaded guilty to five separate counts of dishonestly failing to disclose information to the Department of Work & Pensions and the London Borough of Kensington & Chelsea, namely that she was not a UK resident.

The charges relate to claims for Income Support; Employment Support Allowance; Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit between February 22, 2012 and August 2, 2015.

Thomas, a first-time offender, displayed mobility issues entering and exiting the secure dock.

She was bailed for a pre-sentence report by the judge, who told her: “These are serious offences over a long period of time.

“The fact I’m adjourning for a report is no promise as to the sentence.”

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