Worksop: Benefits cheat jailed for falsely claiming £18k

A Worksop man has been jailed for 20 weeks after falsely claiming almost £18,000 in housing and council tax benefit.
Worksop Magistrates CourtWorksop Magistrates Court
Worksop Magistrates Court

Stephen Whiston, 49, of Stillwell Gardens, was sentenced at Worksop Magistrates’ Court on 15th May after pleading guilty to two offences.

He falsely informed Bassetlaw District Council on 17th February 2009 that his wife was not in employment and he also failed to inform the Council that he had started employment between 7th June 2009 and 7th October 2012.

As a result, Whiston received an overpayment of £13,836.70 in housing benefit and £4,045.30 in Council Tax Benefit, making a total of £17,882 over a 40-month period.

In total he was receiving approximately £450 per month in benefits that he was not entitled to.

Coun Sylvia May, Cabinet Member for Customer and Support Services, said: “There are hundreds of individuals and families in desperate need of the support that Bassetlaw District Council can provide.”

People who abuse this system put at risk our capacity to help those most in need and we will vigorously pursue benefit cheats.”