News, sport and entertainment from the Bournemouth Echo and Dorset Echo.

Council in crackdown on benefits fraudsters

From the Echo, first published Wednesday 12th Dec 2001.

BENEFIT cheats are being hunted down by West Dorset District Council as part of a Government pilot scheme that has already resulted in one man being sent to jail.

The council is one of scores of local authorities taking part in an initiative that allows them to bring prosecutions against benefit fraudsters.

Previously the Benefits Agency has been responsible for making the prosecutions.

The council is now warning others falsely trying to claim payments that they `will not give up' until they too are caught.

David Heard, who is heading a team of investigators at the council, today said: "Basically, funding has been made available to local authorities to prosecute benefit fraudsters as part of a new Government incentive scheme.

"We have always been very pro-active in that department and are taking full advantage of this new scheme.

"We are tracking down people who are falsely claiming housing benefit, council tax benefit and income support - all kinds of benefit fraud.

"The district council is one of 63 local authorities who are pioneering the scheme and using the extra funding to become even more vigilant."

The scheme has produced results already.

Ian Mark King, 22, of North Road, Sherborne, was investigated by the council and subsequently pleaded guilty at Yeovil Magistrates Court last Monday to two offences of making a false representation to obtain benefit .

He asked for a further 30 offences to be taken into consideration and was sentenced to six weeks in prison.

King was interviewed by council investigators at Dorchester Prison, where he was serving a sentence for violence offences.

He is currently in Dartmoor prison serving a sentence for robbery.

Mr Heard added: "We won't give up. We want this to be a warning to people and hope that they will stop and think again about trying to cheat the system.

"We will persevere and we will catch those who are acting illegally - it's just a matter of time."

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