News

Woodley woman sentenced for benefit fraud

August 01, 2011

A 47-year-old Woodley woman has been prosecuted for committing benefit fraud worth more than £5,000.

Julie Brown, of Howth Drive, Woodley, was given a 12-month community sentence with a requirement of 80 hours of unpaid work after admitting fraud totalling £5,159.

She was also ordered to pay £100 costs after appearing at Reading Magistrates' Court on Wednesday, July 6.

Brown admitted making a false statement and not declaring she was living with her employed partner after an investigation.

Muir Laurie, director of business assurance and democratic services at Wokingham Borough Council, said: “This was another excellent result that highlights the benefits of joint working between the local councils and the Department of Work and Pensions, all of whom are committed to identifying fraudulent benefit claims and pooling resources to protect the public purse.”

Anyone with concerns relating to benefit fraud can report them in confidence on 0800 454 240.

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Most recent user comments 13 of 13

" caused me to "assault him" albeit mildly, with phlegm " Thomas your scum , if that was me you gobbed at ,your filthy chops would have been put out action for a long long time , Filthy animal .!!!!

grumpywilliam, reading
04/08/2011 at 22:08

Good stuff - name and shame these scumbags!

Dustybin, Reading
03/08/2011 at 15:45

Thomas, you have history with this publication. Aren't you a self confessed civil servant - or now that you are claiming benefits, an ex-civil servant? Would you have accepted someone spitting at you? Pot. Kettle. Black. Your hypocrisy disgusts me.

Jane Doe, Reading
02/08/2011 at 21:31

Blindly bow, or grateful to have a job and not willing or able to risk it for people who spit at them? Sorry, but no matter how much of an injustice you think youve been done you are not a llama!

BobBuilder, Reading
01/08/2011 at 22:45

Hey Thomas, what does it say for you if these 'ill-educated people that blindly bow to bureaucracy' can get a job and you can't?

Your ego must certainly take a hit.

Wokingham Person
01/08/2011 at 20:30

The holiday was booked prior to going on benefits.

I just cannot believe ill-educated people that blindly bow to bureaucracy are recruited to work for the government civil service.

THOMAS CASAGRANDA
01/08/2011 at 17:10

@Thomas, I can't believe you seem some what proud to have spat your phlegm at someone that was only doing their job and has to abide by rules. As a working mother of 3 and wife of a husband that works his bloody nuts off, i'm baffled as to how you can afford to go on a holiday while on benefits???? Clearly being on benefits pays :0) (sarcastic smiley face)

Love the News!!!
01/08/2011 at 17:04

Come on ! The guy was clueless, and thick; a toadying, lickspittle, non-entity of a civil servant.

THOMAS CASAGRANDA
01/08/2011 at 17:00

Thomas, I understand that you are frustrated by the system but the staff dont make the rules unfortunately. Sounds like you spat at someone trying to make a living sticking to the rules that they didnt make and maybe dont even agree with, Nice.

BobBuilder, Reading
01/08/2011 at 15:50

Did the article miss the bit about the fraudulent amount being paid back?

Agree with whitespirit that there is a lot of corporate tax being squirreled away, but there also appears to be a lot of benefit fraud going one and it probably totals as much as the corporate tax evasion, so it is good that offenders are brought to justice.

Thomas, the DWP isn't there to pay for your holiday, so it doesn't seem unreasonable to halt a benefit for a holiday, as in that period you would not be job seeking. Whether it is liked or not, there has to be a process.

Smiffy, Reading
01/08/2011 at 15:36

YEY one down and a whole army more of people yet to be caught by this kind of fraud in Reading! But why isn't she paying the £5,159 back plus the 80 hours community service? Which suggests her committing fraud was actually financially worth it as she will never get that amount of money working a regular job in 80 hours!!!

Or have I missed something?

LittleMissGrumps, Reading
01/08/2011 at 15:28

A good result, but the DWP are Nazis.

I am currently claiming benefits, and have experienced the Procrustean fascism of the DWP via Reading Jobcentre. What happened was that, for 1 week, I went on holiday to the Irish Republic. I was honest, informing the DWP, and the benefit was suspended, and I now have to, and here's a euphemism, undergo what is known as a Rapid Reclaim.

Anyway, I went to the DWP in Reading on Thursday last week - I stated that I was honest, and veracious, and that I needed my benefit. He said I had lost my benefits, as I went on holiday and was not actively seeking employment. Ire ensued. Anyway, his smug, condescending manner caused me to "assault him" albeit mildly, with phlegm touching his shirt. Four Group 4 security guards, one with a weird tattoo, used excessive force to restrain me, consequently. Now you wonder why people defraud the DWP. It is pointless being honest with them, as they crucify you for that.

THOMAS CASAGRANDA
01/08/2011 at 14:39

I wonder if Muir Laurie will go to whitehall and ask the government to be just as vigorous in pursuing the tax avoiders and evaders? They could start by looking at major telecom companies who avoided paying 100's of MILLIONS in tax on some of their deals and possibly at large retail chains which structure their operations in order to pay all their profit in dividends to non-domiciled UK citizens, who incidentally are allowed to vote in UK elections despite paying little or no tax here.

Or possibly the tax affairs of certain large media companies with a penchant for hacking phones.