Benefits cheat who stole £85k told she can pay back £50 a month for 141 years | UK | News
A benefits fraudster convicted of fraudulently obtaining £85,000 over eight years has been spared prison. Former care worker Louise Stuart (60), of Maryport, Cumbria, was given an 11-month suspended prison sentence after admitting two charges of failing to disclose circumstances affecting her entitlement to benefits at Carlisle Crown Court.
Stuart claimed to be ‘single’ on benefits despite living secretly with his partner for eight years. In her requests for benefits, she said she was a single woman with no additional income, which entitles her to Employment Support Allowance (ESA) and housing benefit. As well as avoiding prison, Stuart was also allowed to repay the money at the rate of £50 a month; This debt will not be erased until 2167.
Stuart was ordered to repay £49,059 in ESA and £36,785 in housing benefit over a period of 141 years.
Judge Michael Fanning accepted it was unlikely the state coffers would be repaid as he imposed an eight-month curfew on Stuart between 8pm and 7am.
Investigators were able to confirm the couple’s relationship after discovering photos posted on Facebook of their engagement and holiday abroad.
Prosecutor Kim Whittlestone said the evidence did not show Stuart was dishonest when his welfare applications were first submitted, although there were indications he was already in a relationship with Harrison at the time.
But he told the court the couple had been living together since the beginning of 2018 – almost eight years – when the scam was revealed, and this change in living arrangements should have been reported to the DWP.
Ms Whittlestone added that Stuart had previous convictions for offenses involving dishonesty, although most of them dated back to his youth.
Speaking in Stuart’s defence, barrister Emily Wilson cited glowing accounts of his character, integrity and trustworthiness.
Ms Wilson cited her financial difficulties after losing her job of 18 years due to health problems as a mitigating factor.
He added: “He was a hard-working person most of his life.”
Judge Fanning was not indifferent to the defence’s arguments and, handing down sentence, told Stuart: “This is fraud and you knew it was so.”
