New Addington benefit cheat jailed
By Gareth Davies
gareth.davies@essnmedia.co.uk
A care assistant has been jailed for scamming taxpayers out of more than £21,000 in benefits.
Kathleen Payet, 52, was jailed for eight months at Croydon Crown Court on Tuesday, after admitting ten charges of fraud over a period of four years.
Payet, of King Henry's Drive, New Addington, started work at the Bolingbroke Hospital, Battersea, on March 1, 2002.
In 2003, she lied to claim housing benefit, jobseeker's allowance and council tax rebates.
James Fletcher, prosecuting, said the mother of three regularly filled in renewal application forms confirming her original statement that she was unemployed.
He explained: "She was interviewed on December 17 last year and she said she had stopped working for the NHS in 2003 and had been looking after her children and grand-children.
"She was further interviewed on January 24 and made a statement saying she had never worked for the NHS."
Payet ended up receiving a total of £21,401 to which she was not entitled. There had so far been no repayments.
Philip Rubery, defending, said the money was spent entirely on her three children and her daughter's four children.
He said: "She didn't have an extravagant life-style. She had not been earning enough to support her family and her daughter had debts of £20,000."
The judge, Mr. Recorder Heathcote Williams QC, told Payet: "This was a deliberate fraud from the outset and you obtained a substantial amount of public money".
Councillor Gavin Barwell, cabinet member for resources and customer services, said: "Once again this successful prosecution proves that benefit fraud does not pay.
"People may think that they will get away with it but there is no escape - if you are breaking the law, you will be found out and you will have to pay the consequences.
"Benefits exist for people in genuine need, those who abuse the system in this way will not be allowed to get away with it."
Anyone wishing to report a fraud should telephone the fraud line on 0800 328 9270.
10 Comments
by Donna E, addington
Tuesday, December 23 2008, 11:24PM
“She deserves everything she gets what a piece of scum. Most of us work hard to be able to live and there is those who believe they can just steal because thats all it is. I hope she gets an unpleasent stay in prison.”
by A Friend, Croydon
Sunday, December 21 2008, 10:56PM
“Heard about comments left.. so hence why i am on website.
Not something i would normally respond to.. people obviously have too much time on their hands and need to get a life!!
But negative news seems to help people thrive.
I know the family well and know they are very hard working..
Daughter is nothing to do with it!!”
by Striver, Croydon
Friday, December 19 2008, 1:04PM
“Claire,
Many people do lose their job. I've been made redundant three times. It's not nice.
However, I've got on looking for work - and upgrading qualifications - until I've found work. A couple of times I had to take 'whatever was available' for a while, rather then work exactly in my line.
Yes, Child Benefit gets paid to those with kids. Don't we want to encourage kids, as a society?
Working Tax benefits - ludicrously - gets paid to those earning up to something like £60,000 as a family for two kids. Yet they're taxed, too. If the two earners earn un-equal amounts, it may be that one will be on 'Higher Rate' tax, yet they still get 'Working Tax Credits'.
Yes, the system could be improved. . . .
But, yes, some of those scrounging should get off their backsides.
I don't know Ms. Payet, but she broke the law. She has had £20,000 plus which she should not have had. That money is not available for more deserving
- in law - people.
Shouldn't we all turn in everyone who deliberately breaks the law?”
by claire, shirley
Friday, December 19 2008, 5:32AM
“everyone is a scrounger then, esp those that have kids, regardless of whether you work, as CHILD BENEFIT is given to everyone with chilfren and that is also a benefit which taxpayers payn so we all scrounge off the system in some way or form. The same goes with child and working tax credit, that is a form of benefit and you get it if u wrk and have kids.
it would be funny to see all you commenters lose your jobs and be difficult to find a next one, then we would srr if you sought govt help.”
by mrx, Croydon
Thursday, December 18 2008, 8:34AM
“thats the issue. every scrounger has an excuse! or a winge. or a reason why they steal money from the hard working. In an honesty im not interested. Pay your own way, instead of scrounging off of us! Imagine how fruitful the nation would be if no one scrounged.”
by A friend, addington
Wednesday, December 17 2008, 10:15PM
“Please dont comment on a story that is half told, None of you have the right to comment on her family. You dont know the full story. Think twice before you make personal comments, as that is uncalled for, Her and her family have been though enough. She has faced what she has done and will take her punishment, Dont any of you have a life?”
by Chas, Croydon
Wednesday, December 17 2008, 9:29PM
“BENEFIT FRAUD HOTLINE
0800 854 440”
by P, croydon
Wednesday, December 17 2008, 12:33PM
“8 months - that's a joke. prob wont even do 4months, they are not going to send her down.she'll prob get community service!
''People may think that they will get away with it but there is no escape - if you are breaking the law, you will be found out and you will have to pay the consequences'' what consequences! is she going to pay it back? i doubt it! this country is made for criminals! they get away with no punishment & no fear! it's a joke!!”
by D, Croydon
Wednesday, December 17 2008, 12:20PM
“Lets not forget that it wasn't just 21,000 that she stole. A person with a job would obviously have to earn substantially more to generate this income AFTER TAX.
Another case of someone with more children than she could afford. Sorry, but if you can't afford them, don't have them. Same with her daughter, who sounds like a baby producing factory.”
by Richard III, Croydon
Wednesday, December 17 2008, 11:56AM
“Good. Another scrounger sent down.”