Lottery winner continued to claim UK benefits
A lottery winner kept on claiming benefits after scooping a £300,000 jackpot.
Lesley Thomas, 49, didn’t tell the authorities about her windfall and kept claiming housing benefit and employment and support allowance as before. The total overpayment was more than £17,988, Merthyr Tydfil Magistrates’ Court heard yesterday.
Prosecutor Monique McKevitt said: ‘[Ms Thomas] received a sum of £300,000 as a lottery win from Camelot UK. ‘Ms Thomas was interviewed on March 15 last year. She admitted that she had claimed the fraudulent funds. The payment has been paid back in full.’
Thomas pleaded guilty to failing to inform Merthyr Tydfil council of her change of circumstances relating to the housing benefit she was receiving between April 2015 and November 2015. She also pleaded guilty to failing to inform the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) about her change of circumstances.
A probation report said Ms Thomas has shown ‘deep remorse for her actions’.
The court was also told Ms. Thomas, of Nantygwenith Street, Merthyr Tydfil, lives alone with no children or partner. She was said to have numerous health complaints that require the ongoing support of carers on a daily basis, especially to help her carry out daily chores.
Kim Treloar, mitigating, said: ‘This case goes back some years now.’ Discussing the lottery win she added: ‘She gave some money to her niece to assist her.
She gave some money to her relatives. ‘Sources say she suffered from depression, anxiety, and many physical issues. She has fully accepted that she’s done wrong.’
Bench chair Mary Morris said the magistrates ‘took a long time’ to consider the sentence they would impose. Furthermore, they handed Thomas a 26-week prison sentence suspended for 12 months.
She was also ordered to pay £200 in costs and was handed a 12-week tagged curfew. Mrs. Morris said: ‘[The offense] was over a long period of time and we did find that it was a deliberate act.’
