Another fraudster sentenced

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Another fraudster sentenced

Tuesday November 13, 2012

A fraudster who swindled Hammersmith & Fulham (H&F) Council out of almost £30,000 of benefits has avoided jail.

Sandra Allder, of Carthew Road, Hammersmith claimed the cash despite having more than £40,000 saved in her bank account.

When she was questioned by H&F Council’s corporate anti fraud service, she claimed that the money was not hers and this it was for her son who has learning difficulties.

In total, Allder, 56, illegally claimed £22,340 of housing benefit, £5,096 of council tax benefit and £8,127 of income support.

She pleaded guilty to fraud at Hammersmith Magistrates on Thursday October 4.

At Isleworth Crown Court, on Friday November 9, Allder was sentenced to 24 weeks in jail, suspended for 12 months. She was also told to do 150 hours unpaid work.

Deputy Leader, Cllr Greg Smith, said: “Whatever your personal circumstances may be, it is simply unacceptable to cheat the public purse. We will continue to clamp down hard on those who think that fraud is acceptable.”

» Send us your comments now

If the account was in her name it was her money and she should have been made to pay it back to the council.
From Suzanne on 18/11/2012 at 11:51
The people who defraud as did this woman who was old enough to know better should be made to repay all the money that they have cheated the tax payers out of. If they can't pay it back then they should definately be made to serve a sentence befitting to the crime. In this case it wasn't.
From B. Griffiths on 17/11/2012 at 15:24
She must be laughing 40k to look forward to. No wonder this country is in the state it is. Only good thing is she got named & shamed but am sure she will get over that with all that money to live with.
From Fluffy on 16/11/2012 at 19:24
This lady was only sentenced to 24 weeks in jail, suspended for 12 months for defrauding 30,000 from the public purse. How unfair is the justice system in this country. I know many young boys (15 years old) who have been sentenced to 12 months in jail for attempted robbery of a mobile phone as part of joint enterprise. They do their sentence in jail. This woman clearly knew what she was doing unlike young boys who fall under peer pressure. Most of these young boys grow out of this criminal activity by the time they mature and realise what they are doing but this lady knew fully well what she set out to do. Her intention was to defraud and cheat the system she knew very well.
24 weeks sentence is not enough justification to discourage others from doing likewise.
She had 40K in her bank account, why can't the 30K be recovered or has it.
People will carry on to defraud the benefits system given the light sentence that Ms allder has been given. It is worth taking the risk. Thats how others would percieve this
From yes on 16/11/2012 at 14:35
Question. Was the council able to get back the £30,000 she obtained. The fact that she had £40,000 in a bank account I hope the answer is yes. 150 hours unpaid work (that works out at £200 an hour )
From Adrian on 13/11/2012 at 18:16
Suspended sentence - yeah that hurts.
40K in the bank - does it remain there?
150hrs x minimum wage = 930 - yeah great claw back!
From LOL on 13/11/2012 at 16:33

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