Penryn woman guilty of benefit fraud (From Falmouth Packet)

Penryn woman guilty of benefit fraud

3:10pm Monday 11th June 2012 in News

A woman from Penryn has been found guilty at Truro Magistrates Court to two counts of housing benefit and council tax benefit fraud.

Lorraine Gooden (42) of Longdowns, Penryn pleaded not guilty to fraudulently obtaining £4,671.20 after failing to promptly report to Cornwall Council that her then partner was in paid employment.

However after hearing the facts of the case and witness testimony Gooden was found guilty on both counts of benefit fraud.

Gooden was sentenced to a community order of a sixteen week curfew on Friday, Saturday, Sunday 7pm-7am in respect of a housing benefit and council tax benefit fraud.

Gooden was also ordered to pay £250 costs to Cornwall Council. The overpaid benefits are being recovered from Gooden by the council separately from the court action.