House seller unlawfully obtained benefits - 07/11/06
An anonymous tip-off led to a Barry man receiving a four-month
curfew order for unlawfully obtaining more than £5,500 in
benefits.
The curfew order imposed by Vale of Glamorgan magistrates on
John Bunn, of Main Street, who was arrested on a warrant after
failing to appear in court, covers the hours 8pm to 7am.
The magistrates at Barry, who heard that Bunn received £5,653.77
– the amount is recoverable – in Housing and Council Tax benefits,
also ordered the defendant to pay £830.78 costs at the rate of £20
a week.
The court heard from the Vale Council that Bunn received money
to which he was not entitled after failing to declare that he
received proceeds from the sale of a property and that his wife was
working.
This information had been supplied to the Council via its
Freepost, Beat a Cheat, scheme.
The Council can also be contacted through the fraud hotline
number, which is free and confidential, on 0800 731 2525.