Wrexham mum defrauded DWP out of ?19k by claiming to be single …
A mum claiming to be cash-strapped after her marriage broke down was found to have lied about her real situation for years. Joanne Jones, of Hunter’s Way in Llay, appeared before Mold Crown Court[1] having admitted that she dishonestly claimed just under £19,240 in benefits from the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) between 2013 and 2015.
Prosecutor Matthew Dunford told the court how Jones told the authorities that she needed income support as a result of being a single parent after splitting with her husband. In reality, the pair were still together and living as a family unit.
The court heard that the first claim came in 2013, with documents being signed by the defendant to accept she was telling the truth about her circumstances. She went on to provide more documents in the two years that followed when seeking the same support that implied that she and her husband were getting marriage counselling so the support wouldn’t be needed once he returned full-time to their home.
The court heard that she made a further claim for support but at this stage a formal investigation took place by the DWP. It concluded that the couple were not entitled to the cash as they had never split during the period where Jones sought the extra income.
It was said that in the time period of offending, the Jones’ held a joint mortgage for a property on First Avenue in Gwersyllt, Wrexham[3]. Furthermore, Mr Jones’ employer confirmed to the DWP that he had the defendant listed as his next of kin with the same home address as him.
More discoveries were made on Joanne Jones’ public Facebook[4] page, the court heard. The investigators found photos from a family holiday to Florida during the offending period in 2016 as well as posts indicating that the couple were “ready to support Wales” at a sporting match together.
There was further evidence that Mr Jones had not moved out of the family property during this timeframe as he took out an insurance policy for his vehicle and listed First Avenue as his home. Bank accounts were analysed and found Mr Jones was making payments for household utilities on a regular basis – including their landline and broadband services.
When questioned by the police, the defendant said she had done nothing wrong and insisted she would tell the DWP “straight away” if she didn’t need the money. She claimed that the couple had split up but she allowed Mr Jones to “come and go” from the house in order to see their children but there was no real love between them anymore.
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“We were just like brother and sister, really. There was no relationship, and no marriage at all,” the court was told she said in interview.
Richard Edwards, defending, told the court that his client has started to pay back the cash gradually. He accepted that the offence happened several years ago and the court case has been hanging over her for quite some time whilst thorough investigations were concluded.
Judge Niclas Parry said the mum’s claims were “fraudulent from the start” and that she had previously made false claims in 2002. He added that made it lucky for he that he spared Jones from going to prison, suspending her eight month sentence for 18 months.
He ordered that she must complete a rehabilitation activity with the probation service over 15 sessions. The judge also granted an application for a proceeds of crime hearing to take place at a later date.
He said: “For a second time you have defrauded the public purse. It’s the public who suffer because that money is meant for deserving people and they are affected when claims are made by people like you who are not entitled to the money.”
References
- ^ Mold Crown Court (www.dailypost.co.uk)
- ^ Police find man’s £70,000 drugs stash while helping woman move out of property (www.dailypost.co.uk)
- ^ Wrexham (www.dailypost.co.uk)
- ^ Facebook (www.dailypost.co.uk)
- ^ Caernarfon (www.dailypost.co.uk)
- ^ Llandudno (www.dailypost.co.uk)
- ^ Mold (www.dailypost.co.uk)
- ^ click here (www.dailypost.co.uk)
- ^ North Wales Court Reports Facebook group (www.facebook.com)