Littlehampton benefit cheat's decade of deceit

Susan Ellis, of Littlehampton, used fake a rent book and tenancy agreement to disguise the fact that the owner of the property where she lives was her partner, and gave false information on claims forms.

Ellis, who has admitted falsely claiming a total of 93,591 in benefits, will be sentenced tomorrow (Friday, May 1) at Chichester Crown Court. She pleaded guilty to a total of 19 counts and was warned by the judge that she was likely to be sent to prison.

Arun council leader Gill Brown, speaking after Ellis' last court appearance, said: "This is an outrageous example of someone who was prepared to lie and cheat this council and Arun's taxpayers out of huge amounts of money.

Deterrent for others

"It was a calculated and long-term plan devised to deliberately deceive, so that the individual concerned could walk away with more money each month.

"We take all cases of benefit fraud extremely seriously and needless to say that in this case especially, we are pleased this individual has been brought to justice.

"I sincerely hope the punishment handed out will serve as a deterrent for any others who are prepared to lie in order to claim money that is not rightly theirs."

Another Littlehampton woman will also be sentenced at the crown court tomorrow for benefit fraud, after falsely claiming more than 26,000 in housing benefits.

Karen Johnson, of Stanley Road, was charged with submitting a false claim form in which she failed to declare important information about that her landlord.

Taxpayer the victim

She pleaded guilty at Chichester Magistrates' Court last month, and the case sent to the crown court for sentencing.

The benefit cheats were also attacked by Arun cabinet member for central services, Paul Dendle. He said: "This council will not accept people such as this dishonestly taking money away from those who need it most at this difficult time.

"There is a perception that benefit fraud is a victimless crime, but it is not. The victim is the taxpayer, who is indirectly funding the fraudster.

"If we reduce fraud, then the council will be able to invest more money into delivering and improving frontline services and keep levels of council tax down. I hope these prosecutions serve as a warning to all other potential fraudsters that they will be caught."

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