Benefit Cheat's Disney Trip

A benefit cheat blew £4,000 on a trip to Florida’s Disney World after continuing to claim cash despite a £100,000 inheritance.

Divorced mother-of-two Lorna Overington, 53, had already enjoyed two more holidays; gifted her son and daughter £10,000 each and gone on a £20,000 spending spree.

The London Ambulance Service administrator received £19,000 in Housing Benefit to help pay her rent due to her modest earnings, but kept quiet about the inheritance for three years.

Overington, of Wilverley Crescent, New Malden pleaded guilty to failing to notify a change in circumstances to the Department of Work & Pensions between June 23, 2014 and June 5, 2017.

“She spent money that taxpayers had given on two ten thousand pound gifts and a trip to Disney World,” said Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court Judge Timothy Lamb QC today.

“Some would say a trip to Disney World for the family was lavish. There must be people on benefits today that would love ten thousand pounds to be given to them.”

Overington, who has repaid £15,000 and is on a payment plan for the remaining £4,000 received 14 weeks imprisonment, suspended for two years.

She must also complete 90 hours community service work and pay £340 costs.

“She knew when the claim started that her mother had died and that she was a beneficiary,” added the judge. “She was not entitled to this money.”

Overington’s mother died in January, 2014, leaving a £400,000 New Malden home and the inheritance payments were received via her brother.

“She was having an extremely difficult period in her life, her marriage had broken down and she had to leave the matrimonial home after her husband had an affair with his cousin,” said Hannah Thomas, defending.

“She had to find accommodation for herself and her two teenage children and applied for Housing Benefit.

“She had this terrible year and it was not in the forefront of her mind due to a cancer mis-diagnosis and illness and when she realised she should have declared it became scared,” added the lawyer.

“She is mortified by this. The money was spent to improve the life of her family, none of this was spent on herself.

“In taking them on holidays and giving them this money she was trying to take care of her family. This was not someone living selfishly beyond their means.”

Judge Lamb told Overington: “You feel a great deal of shame and remorse and you have brought a great deal of suffering and strain to your family.

“You knowingly used tens of thousands of pounds that was payable to other benefit recipients for your family, including a trip to Disney World.”