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Suspended prison sentence for benefit fraudster
A suspended prison sentence hangs over a woman who claimed over £83,000 worth of benefits she was not entitled to during a nine-year period.
Together with The Department for Work and Pensions we successfully prosecuted Ms Jean Necek (53) who pleaded guilty at Nottingham Crown Court on 2nd May 2012 to failing to declare she had been living with a full time employed partner from May 2003. Ms Necek continued to claim Housing and Council Tax Benefit and Income Support after this date as a single person.
Ms Necek was convicted at Nottingham Crown Court on 24th May 2012 under Section 111A (1a) of the Social Security Administration Act 1992 following a joint investigation led by ourselves. The conviction was based on a reduced amount of just under £65,000 but the departments are still seeking the recovery of the full amount.
Judge Andrew Hamilton handed Necek an 8-month prison sentence suspended for two years which included a Supervision Order. Judge Hamilton stated that Necek had been thoroughly dishonest and had not admitted her guilt during earlier Court appearances. He said she had known she was guilty and what makes it worse is that she had been trying to get away with it for the last six years. He also said she was very fortunate he did not send her immediately to prison.
Cabinet Member for Corporate Resources, Councillor Duncan McGregor said, “This is our largest ever case. Investigations such as these take a great deal of time and effort and work behind the scenes and we must congratulate the officers involved for all their hard work.
“It is a staggering amount of money, money that was not rightfully hers and is intended for those in need in our society. Although we got a successful outcome and Ms Necek has been punished for her actions, we would have preferred a much sterner sentence that would have then sent a strong message to others that we are on the lookout for those who break the law and we will take action.”
If you know of anyone who is committing benefit fraud, then please contact us on 01246 242444 or email fraud@bolsover.gov.uk. You can also call the National Benefit Fraud Hotline on 0800 854 440.
Date issued: 30th May 2012
Last Updated on Wednesday, 12 September 2012 15:52
