Burton benefits cheat had four houses

A 43-year-old woman claimed more than £3,500 in benefits she was not entitled to by failing to declare she had a job, a court has heard. (h/t Dave)

Parveen Akhtar admitted two charges of making a false statement to obtain benefits from the Department of Work and Pensions when she appeared before Cannock Magistrates' Court.

The first charge relates to March 10, 2016, when Akhtar, from Burton, claimed Carers' Allowance to the value of £3,730.80 for caring for her nephew. She did this without declaring she had employment at a rest home where she worked as a carer.

The second offence was on November 11, 2017, when she applied for Employment and Support Allowance for the Department of Work and Pensions. On the application she failed to declare she had an interest in four properties.

Chris Coughlan, prosecuting, said: "This is fraud from the public purse.

"On the form it asks if she had interests in any other properties apart from the home she lives in. She ticked the no box and it was a lie as she has a beneficial interest in four properties."

He added that Akhtar was subject to a suspended sentence for a similar offence and he requested a confiscation order for the money that was owed.

Simon Dean, defending Akhtar, told the court: "Ms Akhtar has been the victim of horrendous domestic abuse which is behind all the matters she has faced before the court that she addresses this morning."

Akhtar will be sentenced by a judge at Stafford Crown Court when more detail will be given about the domestic abuse she has suffered.

The date has not yet been set for the hearing but she answers unconditional bail until the next court date.

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