Garston resident prosecuted for benefit fraud

Three Rivers District Council’s fraud investigation team have successfully prosecuted another resident for claiming benefits to which they were not entitled. Sushil Tandon of Lemonfield Drive, Garston pleaded guilty to failing to notify the Council that she had savings in a bank account which meant she was not entitled to the reduction in her Council Tax that she had been claiming. On July 26 Tandon was sentenced at St Albans Magistrates Court and ordered to repay more than £2,400 in addition to a fine of £150, costs of £150 and a £30 victim surcharge. Three Rivers’ lead member for Resources and Shared Services, Cllr Matthew Bedford, said: “We have a team of investigators who will prosecute you if you deliberately give wrong information when you apply for help with your council tax or rent. Residents can telephone or email us in confidence if they have any suspicions that a neighbour or colleague is committing fraud.” You can report benefit fraud to the Council in complete confidence on freephone 0800 458 9200 or by email. More information on fraud can be found here http://www.threerivers.gov.uk/service/fraud