Benefits fraudster must pay back cash (From York Press)

Benefits fraudster Sharon Goddard must pay back cash

9:01am Thursday 14th February 2013 in News

A FRAUDSTER from East Yorkshire has been ordered to pay back thousands of pounds in wrongly claimed benefits.

Sharon Goddard, 35, of Edward Street, Pocklington, pleaded guilty at Beverley magistrates court to failing to give a prompt notification of a change in circumstances affecting her entitlement to housing and council tax benefit.

East Riding of Yorkshire Council investigators established that Goddard had failed to declare that she had been working during the period February 1, 2010 to March 23 last year.

Goddard has to repay the £2,881.19 in benefits and pay £312 towards legal costs. She was given a 12-month conditional discharge.

The council’s Richard Johnson, said: “Data matching with other agencies is proving to be a highly effective tool in the fight against benefit fraud.

“The message is clear – it is only a matter of time before those who choose to deliberately obtain benefit dishonestly are brought before the courts.”

Anyone who suspects benefit fraud in East Yorkshire can call the 24-hour benefit fraud hotline in confidence on 01482 394949.