Probation officer could face jail over £7,000 benefit fraud

A PROBATION officer pocketed £7,000 in benefits after failing to tell authorities that she was in work.

Tara Gale, 38, wrongly claimed Employment and Support Allowance and Housing Benefit for a year by not declaring she was in paid employment. Judge Neil Bidder QC warned her she could go to prison.

Cardiff Crown Court heard she committed benefit fraud between February 2015 and February 2016.

Nuhu Gobir, prosecuting, said she dishonestly intended to make a gain for herself by failing to disclose her circumstances. The court heard she applied to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) in February 2015 for Employment and Support Allowance.

Prosecutors said that claim was made on the basis she was unable to work due to ill health, single and had no income or savings. Mr Gobir told the court information “came to light” suggesting she was working as a probation officer when she made the claim. An investigation began and she was interviewed under caution.

Prosecutors said she was “surprised” when investigators suggested she was in work while claiming benefits.

Gale stated she had not done it intentionally and told them she had problems with her memory. She said in court she was temping at the time of the application.

The court heard she fraudulently claimed a total of £7,351.70.

Judge Bidder asked if any of the money had been paid back and Mr Gobir replied: “Not as far as the prosecution know.”

Gale, from Cefn Glas Road in Bridgend, pleaded not guilty to two counts of benefit fraud at a hearing in December last year, but changed her pleas in April.

The judge noted there was evidence she may have “underlying mental health problems”. He said he would take the unusual step of deferring sentence for 20 weeks.

In that time, she must engage with mental health services and make arrangements with the DWP to make regular repayments. Judge Bidder said if she does not comply, “she can expect to go to prison. It is as simple as that”.

She was granted bail until her next appearance on October 4.