Facebook snares benefits cheat

Costa expat fiddled more than £46,000 from taxpayers

EXPAT Louise Jones was caught out as a benefits cheat after boasting of her life in Spain on social media while fiddling more than £46,000 from taxpayers.

The 50-year-old illegally pocketed the cash while claiming housing benefits for two properties in Lincolnshire and employment support allowances between 2007 and 2016 – both houses owned by husband Bruce McHardy.

And she posted pictures of their engagement in 2015 and wedding in July 2017; also describing how she was managing director of McHardy Spanish Properties and sister company Blanca Sales and Rentals.

A court heard how the couple lived together in Alicante and the relationship broke down after the gravy train of benefits dried up.

McHardy Spanish Properties first had offices in Orihuela; and both companies opened offices in Calpe in 2016, the property company also advertising premises in Campoamor.

Exeter Crown Court heard the couple have now split up and Jones, appearing under her maiden name, had moved back to the UK and was living in Kingsteignton in Devon. She has launched divorce proceedings.

She admitted eight charges of benefit fraud and was jailed for six months suspended for two years by Judge Peter Johnson – he also set a timetable for the seizure of any assets under the Proceeds of Crime Act; including any interest in Mr McHardy’s two Lincolnshire properties.

The judge said: “You were a person of good character but that has been blown away. This was dishonesty of a high order which represent a deeply entrenched course of dishonesty on your part.

Property

“You claimed housing benefit on two properties where you said you were living when clearly you were not.

“I accept you were perhaps in thrall to a controlling individual in a relationship which came to an end as a result of the cessation of these benefits.”

Sally Daulton, prosecuting, said Jones illegally claimed a total of £46,867 in benefits – and a further £33,000 in severe disability allowance but that was exportable to Spain and correctly paid.

“She appeared in Facebook as Louise McHardy, managing director of McHardy Spanish Properties, and it is clear they were living together in Spain,” said Miss Daulton.

“She was asked in interview if she could name any of her neighbours at her houses in Hull and North Lincolnshire and she could not.”

Defending, Martin Salloway said his client was starting divorce proceedings and now saw the relationship as abusive and she was exploited.

Jones, who has never been in trouble before, made full admissions – medical notes confirmed she suffered from arthritis and depression.