Curfew and fine for Leighton Buzzard woman found guilty of Council Tax Support fraud
Wednesday, 31 July 2019
A woman with four jobs from Leighton Buzzard who fraudulently claimed a reduction in her council tax of over £3000, has pleaded guilty at Luton Magistrates Court on 30 July.
Sharon Squire of Gemini Close Leighton Buzzard claimed Council Tax Support between 2016 and 2019 on the basis she had a low earnings job. In fact, she had failed to declare that she had three other jobs, earning considerably more than she was declaring, and had she made the council aware of her actual earnings she would not have been entitled to Council Tax Support.
Ms Squire who attended Luton Magistrates’ Court on 30 July pleaded guilty and was ordered to pay costs of over £790 and will be required to pay back the full amount of the monies claimed to us. She was also sentenced to a four-month curfew order.
Councillor Richard Wenham, Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Corporate Resources, said:
People like this, who try to fraudulently abuse the system for their own financial gain are putting their own greed ahead of the needs of vulnerable people.
Council tax fraud is a very serious matter and those who are tempted to try and cheat the system should be reminded that we will investigate and pursue thoroughly all instances of wrongdoing.
If you suspect someone of benefit fraud please contact the team by emailing benefitfraud@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk or by calling 0300 300 5476, the confidential telephone hotline is open 24 hours a day.