TWO benefit cheats from Filey have been ordered to carry out 250 hours each of unpaid work after claiming more than £14,000 they were not entitled to.
Sarah Louise Thorpe and Jason Gage, of Cygnet Close, pleaded guilty to a total of 10 charges relating to the fraud when they appeared before Scarborough magistrates.
The court heard the couple stole the benefits over a two-year period from June 20
06 to October 2008, claiming that Thorpe was a single person although she was living with Gage.
Thorpe admitted to four charges of failing to notify the authorities of a notable change of circumstances and two of making a false statement or representation to obtain benefit.
Gage pleaded guilty to four counts of causing or allowing another to fail to give prompt notification of a change in circumstances.
Passing sentence on Monday, magistrates decided the couple were equally responsible for the theft and gave them a 12-week suspended sentence as well as the unpaid work orders.
Compensation of £8,612.08 and costs of £1,000 were awarded to Scarborough Council.
The court was told Gage was expecting a payment from his former employer following an injury sustained while working and ordered that details of this payment be filed with the court and his financial position re-assessed in three months’ time.
The council’s head of finance and asset management Nick Edwards said: “The magistrates clearly recognised the seriousness of each defendant’s involvement in these criminal acts and this should act as a deterrent for anyone thinking they can defraud the system.
“In this case, thanks to the magistrates’ judgement, the taxpayer will get their money back. Anyone suspecting fraud can call the council free on 0800 0568154.”
