Lydia Frempong of The Spinney, Cheam has pleaded guilty to 2 charges of benefit fraud at Camberwell Green Magistrate Court – 15th July 2014.
The court heard that Ms Frempong had claimed Council Tax Benefit based on her entitlement to Job Seekers Allowance; however an investigation conducted by Sutton Council’s Benefit Investigation Team into Ms Frempong’s claim established she had been receiving an income as an event’s organiser and life coach.
This resulted in a Jobseekers Allowance overpayment of £4,525.15 and a Council Tax Benefit overpayment of £520.55.
On 17th July 2014 Ms Frempong returned to Camberwell Green Magistrates Court for sentencing. Following a probation report, the Magistrate took into account Ms Frempong’s previous good character and early guilty plea.
Ms Frempong was sentenced to a Community Punishment Order of 110 hours of unpaid work to be completed in 12 months and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £60 along with costs towards the prosecution of £85. Ms Frempong will also have to pay back the money that she was not entitled to claim from the London Borough of Sutton and the Department for Work and Pensions.
Speaking after the case, Councillor Nick Emmerson, lead member for Revenues and Benefit at Sutton Council said:
“Thanks to our Benefits Investigation Team we found that Ms Frempong lied in order to falsely claim thousands of pounds in benefits.
“We believe in a fair council that supports residents with the benefits they are entitled to. Ms Frempong has abused the system and must now return this money.”
If you think someone is claiming Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction they are not entitled to, please call the Council’s Investigation Team, in confidence, on 020 8770 5687 or go to the website www.sutton.gov.uk.
Alternatively call the National Benefit Fraud Hotline on 0800 328 6340 or Textphone on 0800 328 6341. You can also follow the Investigation Team on Twitter @LBSinvestigates.