Maidenhead & Windsor

The Royal Windsor and Maidenhead Borough has successfully carried out a benefit fraud prosecution involving overpayments of more than £22,500.

At Reading Crown Court on Wednesday 14 January Carol Henwood, 43, of Heywood Court Close, Woodlands Park, Maidenhead, had pleaded not guilty to four counts of dishonestly making a statement she knew to be false but was found guilty. At Oxford Crown Court on Thursday 26 February she received a 12-month suspended sentence and was ordered to carry out 200 hours’ community service.

Mrs Henwood failed to inform the Royal Windsor and Maidenhead Borough that her husband Graham was living with her while she was claiming housing and council tax benefit as a single parent.

Between 21 July 2003 and 27 August 2007 she received housing benefit overpayments of £19,449.34 and Windsor and Maidenhead council tax benefit overpayments of £3,100.27 – a total of £22,549.61.

The case was referred to the benefit fraud team after a home visit by a benefits verification officer who suspected that Mrs Henwood was not a lone parent.

All four offences are contrary to Section 111A of the Social Security Administration Act 1992.

As well as the sentence, Mrs Henwood will have to repay the £22,549.61 under a repayment plan arranged with the Windsor and Maidenhead borough.

Cllr David Hilton, lead member for finance, said: “This conviction makes the message clear that we will take firm action against anyone who tries to cheat the benefit system.”

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead