Bassetlaw: Suspended sentence and curfew for benefits cheat who claimed over £14,000

A man who illegally claimed more than £14,000 in benefits over three years has received a suspended sentence and a curfew order after pleading guilty at Worksop Magistrates’ Court.
Worksop Magistrates courtWorksop Magistrates court
Worksop Magistrates court

Jason Cobb, 30, of West Hill Road, Ordsall, admitted, three charges of failing to notify Bassetlaw Council and the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP), of a change in circumstances, namely that he had a partner living with him.

This enabled him to receive an overpayment of £10,859.64 in employment and support allowance, £2,690.44 in housing benefit and £826.82 in Council Tax benefit.

This was a total of £14,376.90 over approximately three years.

Cobb was sentenced to 16 weeks imprisonment, suspended for a period of 12 months.

He was also made subject to a five-month curfew order between 8pm and 5am, seven-days per week at his home address.

He was also ordered to pay £300 costs and will have to pay the overpayments back in full.

Ros Theakstone, director of corporate resources at Bassetlaw Council said: “The benefits system is there for people who are in genuine need of help and assistance, not for those who wilfully defraud it and feel the system can be taken advantage of.”

“The council and the DWP will actively pursue benefit cheats through the courts and ensure that they are prosecuted.”

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