21 April,2004

BENEFIT CHEAT PROSECUTED AT LISBURN MAGISTRATES COURT

Mr Norman Cardwell, of 7 Edenvale Court, Lisburn, was recently convicted for fraudulently claiming housing benefit for six years.

The 53-year-old man, who appeared at Lisburn Magistrates Court, pleaded guilty to receiving the benefit he was not entitled to which amounted to nearly £10,000. Mr Cardwell’s solicitor stated in court that his client now realised his error and had repaid almost £1000 of the overpayment, and on his client’s behalf requested leniency from the Magistrate.

The Magistrate stated that it was a very serious matter and that he had considered giving a custodial sentence but that following pre sentence reports, he felt that Mr Cardwell would benefit from probation so therefore a probation order for six months was given. Mr Cardwell was also ordered to pay the court costs and he is required to pay back the money to the Social Security Agency.

This is the latest of a series of prosecutions bought by the Agency in its drive to prevent benefit fraud.

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