A Welshpool pensioner has been fined £4,500 for benefit fraud, and authorities have sent a stern warning to other local dodgers.
Moira Pedrick admitted to Welshpool magistrates that she had kept quiet about her savings over the last 10 years to claim over £22,000 in Housing and Council tax benefit from Powys County Council.
A data match exercise indicated Mrs. Pedrick had not declared all of her bank accounts and during enquiries, the investigating officer established that Mrs. Pedrick had savings in excess of £16,000. Pedrick had made nine false statements between 2002 and 2008 which enabled her to fraudulently claim.
She was given credit for her early guilty plea and was fined £4,500 by Magistrates and also ordered to pay £175 costs and a £15 victim surcharge. It was noted that Mrs Pedrick had repaid the overpaid benefit in full.
A spokesperson for Powys said: “It was clear to the court that this was a deliberate and long term fraud that cost the taxpayer in excess of £22,000. I hope this sends a strong message that fraud will not be tolerated in Powys and we will actively pursue benefit fraudsters through the appropriate courts to maintain the integrity of the system.”
Members of the Public can report a fraud via email at
Benefitfraud@powys.gov.uk