TWO women were given community service orders by Bexley magistrates for defrauding the benefits system.
Elizabeth Winter, 48, of Draper Close, Belvedere and Tia-Angela Bishop, 22, from Thornford Road, Lewisham were both prosecuted by Bexley Council and had pleaded guilty.
Mrs Winter admitted fraudulently claiming £1,948.77 in housing benefit, after she started work for Morrisons supermarket in Erith, in November 1999. The fraud was only discovered 18 months later. She was ordered to do 40 hours community service and pay £60 towards the court costs.
Miss Bishop had claimed more than £2,000 in income support and housing benefit. She claimed she could not work, following an accident. In fact she was a student who worked for the student union during the term and Pizza Hut in the summer holidays.
She was ordered to carry out 60 hours community service and pay £60 costs as well as paying back the benefits.
If you know someone who is claiming benefits unlawfully, call Bexley Council's fraud hotline on 020 8308 4948.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article