A 23-year-old man has been successfully tracked down and prosecuted for fraud following his refusal to cooperate with Fenland District Council’s attempts to investigate his benefit claims.
Josh Reeve failed to attend an interview under caution to discuss his failure to report that he had come off Jobseekers Allowance after finding work.
It meant that he had been overpaid £824.50 in Housing Benefit and £332.42 in Council Tax Benefit.
Investigators traced him to the Swaffham area. Following unsuccessful attempts to interview him, he was charged at King’s Lynn magistrates’ court with two counts of fraud under the Social Security Administration Act.
Mr Reeve, who said he was of no fixed abode, but previously resided at Henry Warby Avenue, Elm, pleaded guilty to both offences.
He was sentenced to a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £1,156.92 in compensation. There was no order to costs.
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