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Prosecution for Benefit Fraud

Released on 14 Jul 2008

David Hutchinson - 50-years-old - of Samphire Road, Oxford has received a six month custodial sentence of which at least three months must be served in custody, after fraudulently claiming over £42,000 of Housing and Council Tax benefit, Incapacity benefit, and Income Support.

During the period of overpayment - 5 February 2001 to 20 March 2006 - Mr. Hutchinson was employed by at least 5 different employers and failed to declare any of this work to Job Centre Plus or Oxford City Council.

During the period, Mr. Hutchinson received Incapacity Benefit of £27,056, Income Support of £5987.77, Housing Benefit of £7024.51, and Council Tax Benefit of £2245.40 to which he was not entitled.

Carol Quainton, Senior Investigations Manager at Oxford City Council says: "The Council takes defrauding the benefits system very seriously. People who cheat the system are stealing from taxpayers and restricting the amount of benefit available for those in genuine need.

"We will take action if we are given false information. Mr. Hutchinson will have to repay all the money to both Oxford City Council and the Department for Work and Pensions as well as serving the sentence handed to him in court today."

Councillor Ed Turner, City Executive Board Member for Finance says: "We place great importance on ensuring that people receive the benefits to which they are entitled but if you commit benefit fraud, you will be found and prosecuted."

Mr. Hutchinson appeared at Oxford Magistrates Court on 22 May 2008 and pleaded guilty to 9 dishonesty charges of making false statements and failing to advise of changes in circumstance.

His case was passed to the Oxfordshire Crown Court for sentencing due to the seriousness of the case.

This was a joint investigation by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and Oxford City Council with the DWP prosecuting.

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