Two caught out in benefits fraud worth thousands

Suzy Holliday, 38, of Riverside Road, Hersham, was found guilty of four counts of dishonesty for benefit fraud offences by submitting two false certificates of earning and one false claim form misrepresenting her financial circumstances, in relation to claims for housing and council tax benefit.

She was also found guilty of failing to declare a change in her circumstances relating to a change in her employment.

Holliday received more than £11,000 in benefit payment she was not entitled to, which she has had to repay.

She was handed a 12-week custodial sentence, suspended for 12 months, and ordered to pay £1,000 costs on November 4.

Another resident, Kharine Rosequete-Delgado, 40, of Poplar Road, Esher, was sentenced for four benefit fraud offences on November 6, after receiving £16,411.78 in housing and council tax benefit and income support she was not entitled to.

Rosequete-Delgado pleaded guilty on October 11 to dishonestly making a false representation by failing to declare inherited capital of more than £30,000 to Elmbridge Council and told the Department for Work and Pensions she had no savings other than £400.

She also dishonestly failed to declare to both Elmbridge Council and the Department for Work and Pensions that she had received further inherited capital of more than £50,000.

Rosequete-Delgado was sentenced to four weeks’ imprisonment for each of the four offences, suspended for 12 months.

She was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £80 and costs of £274.13 and repaid the sum before her court appearances.

Councillor James Browne, Elmbridge Council's cabinet member for housing, said: “In both these benefit fraud cases, the courts have dispensed significant sentences and we would wish this to serve as a stark warning to anyone else who may be claiming benefits to which they are not entitled that dishonesty does not pay.”

To report suspected benefit fraud, call the council’s confidential fraud hotline on 01372 474291.