Following a prosecution by Amber Valley Borough Council, Claire Morris of Chapel Street, received a 12 month community order with a six month supervision requirement.

She was also ordered to pay a contribution towards prosecution costs of £225 by instalments of £5 per week.

Miss Morris had been claiming housing benefit and council tax benefit since August 1999. Her claim was reviewed on several occasions and, based upon the information and evidence she provided, benefit payments continued.

Letters were sent to Miss Morris informing her of the entitlement, specifically stating that she must inform the council immediately of any change in her circumstances, including changes to her income.

In January 2006, the council's benefit investigation manager received information that Miss Morris was in paid employment. As she had not informed the council of any change in circumstances, a fraud investigation began.

Angela Fox, legal officer at the borough council said:"Following the findings of the investigation, we interviewed Miss Morris under caution at the council's offices on March 22 2006. During the interview Miss Morris admitted that she had been working for JMK Restaurants Limited at McDonalds, located at Butterley Park, Ripley, since March 2005. She disclosed that her earnings were approximately £175 every two weeks.

"This would have affected her entitlement to benefit and consequently, in accordance with usual practice, benefit payments were suspended."
The overpayments in respect of the housing benefit (from March 14 2005 to April 3 2006) and the council tax benefit (from March 14 2005 to April 10 2006) totalled more than £5,000.

Claire Morris was convicted in her absence at Ilkeston Magistrates' Court on July 9 2007. Due to the seriousness of the offence, the magistrates did not consider it appropriate to sentence in her absence and issued a warrant for her arrest without bail. This was executed on February 14 2008 when she was arrested and taken to Southern Derbyshire Magistrates' Court.