Rugby citizen Watkins sentenced for £40,000 benefit fraud

One Rugby citizen is lucky to avoid jail after receiving a 24 week suspended sentence. Julie Watkins plead guilty to a long running fraud in which she falsified information to receive benefits. The total take was £40,849 in fraudulent benefits.

When Julie Watkins applied for benefits in 2009, she claimed that she was separated from her long-time partner. She requested help to pay some of the costs as she attempted to raise her kids as a single parent. Without his income, she could not afford the living costs to properly house her family.

In the midst of an investigation into her benefit payments, it was discovered that her partner was in-fact at the residence on a daily basis. She claimed that he was only there during the day to see the children. When asked if he stayed overnight, he admitted that he actually lived there and had never left. This was contrary to response she had supplied to the same question.

Watkins’ partner claims he never even knew that she had applied for or was receiving benefits. She reportedly asked him to leave nearly four years into the fraud so that it would appear that she was living alone as she had claimed. He provided support to her as well, which was proven upon a review of her bank account history. She tried to claim she had no idea she was receiving his wages in her account also, which was almost comical considering the period of time that this had occurred.

The investigation was tipped off by another citizen who became aware that she was receiving benefit payments that she was not entitled to. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and Rugby Borough Council conducted a joint investigation which revealed the true scope of the fraud.

Illicit proceeds included housing payments totalling £26,989. She also received £13,090 in income support. A further £768 was approved for council tax benefit.

The consequences of her actions are as follows:

• A 24 week prison sentence, which is suspended for 24 months.
• A requirement that the defendant works for 150 hours without pay.
• She must pay a £80 victim surcharge.
• She must consent to 24 months of supervision.
• She must repay £27,757 to Rugby Borough Council to reverse housing benefit and council tax benefit payments.
• She must reimburse DWP for the full £13,090 in income support benefits.

The ruling sets the tone that benefit fraud will not be tolerated. Some might be concerned about what they feel might be a light sentence. Officials are aware of the difficulty that this defendant will have in repaying the fraudulent benefits. This is a hefty sum that far exceeds what most people earn in a year.

Rugby Borough Council takes fraud seriously. If anyone is suspected of submitting false claims or for continuing to receive benefits that they are no longer entitled to, the council asks that the fraud be reported. Calls to the benefits team may be made on 01788 533460. The identity of anyone providing a tip will be kept confidential.