And the thefts go on

In Burnley a primary school worker pleaded guilty to a £47,000 benefit fraud. She claimed the money between 2000 and 2006 after failing to disclose that her partner had moved back in. She was overpaid £27,217 in income support, £15,121 in housing benefit and £4,691 in council tax benefit.

A South Shields man claimed £2,142 in council tax benefit despite having £100,000 in an undeclared bank account.

A North Lincolnshire woman is again under investigation after declaring herself bankrupt. In January she was sent to prison for six months for illegally claiming more than £21,000 in welfare benefits. The DWP is disputing the bankruptcy. The paper reports that

Last month, a judge at Doncaster Crown Court was told Bangladeshi-born Begum (57) had made false statements on eight occasions to claim benefits, despite owning properties and having cash assets.

She pleaded poverty to officials, saying she only had £100, when in fact she had four bank accounts, containing at least £63,000.

On another occasion, she paid off her son's mortgage when she claimed to be bankrupt.

Sentencing Begum to six months in jail, Judge Graham Robinson said: "You claimed benefits to which you were not entitled - you were in fact quite a wealthy woman, owning properties and having cash assets."

Begum had asked for 187 similar offences to be taken into consideration.

On a happier note, the benefit fraud team at Wyre Forest District Council are publicising some successes.

Between April, 2007 and January, 2008, the team completed 206 investigations into allegations of fraud in the area and found more than £140,000 had been paid to people making false claims. The overpayments are currently being recovered.

And in Ulster an MP has called for the introduction there of the Voice Risk Analysis software being trialled by Harrow Council which I blogged last week. The Belfast Telegraph reports that

Harrow councillors believe the scheme has saved taxpayers £300 every working hour.

Well done, Lady Sylvia Hermon. Unless there is a better package out there, the software should be rolled out nationally now.

These aren't the only people robbing taxpayers. Robber Conway is still an MP.