Woman, 55, sent to prison for £42,000 benefits fraud

A WOMAN has been jailed after dishonestly claiming more than £40,000 in benefits.

Julie Gillard, 55, pictured, was overpaid income support, council tax support and housing benefits over a period of more than four years totalling £42,006.79.

Sentencing her to 12 months’ imprisonment, half of which will be served in custody before she is released on licence, Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke said Gillard had “deliberately and fraudulently claimed from the outset” benefits she knew she was not entitled to.

Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court heard Gillard, of Gelligaled Road, Ystrad, Pentre, had started claiming the benefits back in 2011, dishonestly telling the Department for Work and Pensions her husband was not working.

Over the course of four and a half years she was then overpaid income support of £37,545.37, council tax support of £1,726.62 and housing benefit of £2,734.80.

Gillard, who now works in a food processing factory, had previously pleaded guilty to dishonestly claiming the housing, council tax and income benefits.

The court heard when Gillard first made the claim in 2011 she was not fit to work due to “considerable ill-health”, and having undergone two operations. Despite that, she claimed the benefits for a different reason, due to her “unconventional household”.

The court was told her husband works away for contracted periods and helps “to a degree” with domestic bills “but no further”. It was said Gillard made the claims so she would have money for the upkeep of the home, and money of “her own”.

Judge Lloyd-Clarke said: “This is a case where you deliberately and fraudulently claimed from the outset benefits you knew you were not entitled to.”