A woman who falsely claimed almost £95,000 in benefits has been tagged for four months after avoiding jail.
Catriona McDonagh, of Hope Close, Brentford, claimed £46,232 in housing benefits, £9,111 in council tax benefit and £38,709 in income support, from Hounslow Council and the Department for Work and Pensions, between March 2002 and February 2011.
She failed to declare she was living with her partner, Thomas D’Arcy, who was working full time, making her ineligible for benefits payments.
The council investigated the pair following an anonymous tip-off from a member of the public and now McDonagh has been tagged for four months, given a 13-and-a-half month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, and was also ordered to complete 35 hours community service at her sentencing, on Thursday, November 21 at Isleworth Crown Court.
Councillor Ed Mayne, cabinet member for community safety and regulatory services at the council, warned that people must declare a change in circumstances to the authorities to make sure claimants are not receiving any benefits to which they are not entitled.
"I am pleased the courts sent a strong message that claiming money you are not entitled to will not go unpunished,” he said. “This woman was caught after a member of the public tipped us off about her claiming benefits she was not entitled to, and I would encourage anyone else who suspects people of making false claims to get in touch.”
To report suspected benefits cheats, contact the council’s fraud team at fraud@hounslow.gov.uk, or call the fraud hotline on 020 8583 2111.
