Barton-le-Clay woman found guilty of Council Tax fraud
Friday, 30 May 2025
A Central Bedfordshire resident has been sentenced to an £80 fine plus ordered to pay £250 in costs and a £32 victim surcharge after attempting to avoid paying Council Tax.
We successfully prosecuted the case at Luton Magistrates’ Court where the defendant, Rebecca Allsop, of Old School Gardens, Barton-le-Clay, pleaded guilty on 27 May, 2025. Ms Allsop had refused to pay her Council Tax, citing the baseless claim that she had not “entered into a contract” with us to pay it.
Ms Allsop further attempted to evade her liability by submitting an online form the day before a magistrates' court hearing for Council Tax arrears, falsely claiming that she had sold her property and moved out months earlier. An investigation revealed that the property had not been sold and the forwarding address she provided was fictitious.
When questioned under caution, Ms Allsop admitted to submitting the form but claimed she had made a mistake when she stated she had sold her property. However, we pursued the case, believing her actions were a deliberate attempt to mislead and obstruct enforcement.
A Central Bedfordshire Council spokesperson, said:
This case demonstrates that residents must pay Council Tax to fund local services. Fraudulent actions such as these undermine the fairness of the system and place an unnecessary burden on others. The guilty plea and subsequent penalty serve as a clear warning to anyone considering similar actions.
We remain committed to tackling fraud and ensuring fairness for all residents by holding individuals accountable for their legal obligations.
We encourage residents to remain vigilant and report any suspected cases of fraud. Email benefitfraud@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk, or call the confidential 24-hour telephone hotline on 0300 300 5476.