The Investigations Unit

Results Achieved

For the period 2004/2005 the Investigation Team successfully prosecuted the following cases of benefit fraud:

Kate Thorne falsified her landlords signature and cashed all her benefit cheques herself. She dishonestly claimed £517.16 and received a £50 fine, a Conditional Discharge and a criminal record.

Douglas Shute failed to declare a private pension and dishonestly claimed £14,182.16 in benefits. He received a 2-year conditional discharge.

As well as the prosecutions listed above, the Investigations Team also issued 7 Formal Cautions and 11 Administrative Penalties.


For the period 2005/2006 the Investigation Team successfully prosecuted 5 cases of benefit fraud:

Sarah Jane Jones claimed £2273.53 as she failed to declare she was working. She received a one-year conditional discharge and a criminal record.

Brian Parkhouse received a 120-hour Community Punishment Order following his failure to declare employment. He had fraudulently claimed £13,520 in various benefits.

Siobhan Rowlinson received a £70 fine, with £70 costs and a criminal record for failing to tell us of a change in her circumstances. She fraudulently claimed £1805.73 in benefits.

David Bosley falsified documents on his daughters benefit claim, believing that as her landlord she would not receive benefits. He got a £150 fine, with £70 in costs and a criminal record.

Gail King fraudulently claimed £2916.04 benefits following a failure to declare a change in circumstances. She received a six-month conditional discharge and a criminal record.

As well as the prosecutions listed above, the Investigations Team also issued 31 Formal Cautions and 2 Administrative Penalties


For the period 2006/2007 the Investigation Team has so far successfully prosecuted 2 cases of benefit fraud:

Gloria Prowse failed to declare a private pension to us was prosecuted in 2002. In 2005, she failed to tell us of a change circumstances and again was prosecuted, receiving a £100 fine and £50 costs.

Jill Louise Dawe lied on her application form about her starting date for her job, and failed to declare that she had a lodger. She ignored 4 requests that she attend an Interview Under Caution which could have resulted in a lighter punishment. Because she chose to ignore us, she was prosecuted. She received a £100 fine, with £50 costs and a criminal record.

As well as the prosecutions listed above, the Investigations Team has also issued 5 Formal Cautions with 3 more Cautions and 1 Prosecution pending.