A benefit cheat has been jailed after conning Wigan council out more than £100,000 after falsely claiming herself as a single person for 11 years.
Sarah Higgins, 48, of Cheltenham Avenue, Lower Ince, was found guilty of falsely claiming £118,000 on September 20 and was jailed for four months and ordered to repay every penny of the benefit.
She admitted to claiming benefits as a single person even though she has been living with her partner for the last eleven years, who was in full time employment.
Councillor Terry Halliwell, Cabinet Member for Corporate Resources and Customer Services at Wigan Council, said: “There are people in our communities that go to work every day and pay their taxes – yet struggle to just get by.
“Then there are people like Ms Higgins who fraudulently take what is not theirs. Justice has been served in this case.”
Her illegal activity was found out after the Department for Works and Pensions received an anonymous tip off to their benefit fraud hotline.
With Wigan Council and the police, a search of the property took place with numerous pieces of evidence being seized.
Ms Higgins was then interviewed at Wigan Police station on two occasions but refused to comment at each.
Ms Higgins will have to repay £84,110.57 in Income Support, £2,761.35 in Job Seekers Allowance, £24,597.03 in Housing Benefit, £6,700.65 in Council Tax Benefit and an £80.00 victim surcharge fee.
Image courtesy of Scott via Flickr, with thanks.
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