Benefit fraud woman jailed for four months

Apr 14 2010 by Matt Hurst, Wallasey News

A WOMAN who failed to inform Wirral Council she worked for them, while continuing to collect benefits, was handed a four month suspended sentence on Friday.

Karen Vilma Kennedy, of Belle Vue Road, Wallasey entered guilty pleas to seven charges of false representation and two charges of failure to notify a change of circumstances, when she appeared before Wirral Magistrates’ Court on April 9.

On that date, the 53-year-old admitted, contrary to the documents submitted, she no longer worked at Greggs bakers but was actually employed as a part-time cleaner by Wirral Council from June 2002.

Kennedy had continued to collect council tax benefit and housing benefit, totalling more than £18,000, until enquiries began in May 2008.

Ken Abrahams, prosecuting for Wirral Council, had told the court: “She indicated she was still in receipt of part-time earnings from Greggs, and had no other income, having failed to inform Wirral Council of a change of circumstances on June 20, 2002, regarding work for Wirral Council.”

Karen Kennedy, 53 and a mother of one, was handed a four month suspended sentence, suspended for two years, by magistrates on Friday.

She was also ordered to carry out two years unpaid work and meet costs of £525.