A REDDITCH woman has been fined after pleading guilty to dishonestly claiming more than £6,000 worth of benefit payments over a nine month period.

Belinda Banner, 51, of Poplar Road in Batchley, was sentenced by Redditch Magistrates Court on November 12 after pleading guilty to dishonestly claiming Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit and Employment and Support Allowance amounting to £6,065.94 between August 2012 and April 2013 by failing to declare that her partner was living with her.

The investigation began as a result of a data match from the National Fraud Initiative that matches electronic data within and between public and private sector bodies to prevent and detect fraud.

Redditch Borough Council led the investigation and invited the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to work with them to uncover the full extent of offending.

Banner was fined £150 and ordered to pay £100 towards the prosecution costs and a £20 victim surcharge.

The court heard that the overpaid benefits have already been repaid in full to both Redditch Borough Council and the DWP.

A Redditch Borough Council spokesman said: “This case again demonstrates the importance of declaring true circumstances when claiming benefit and reporting any changes as they take place. Failure to do so may lead to a criminal record and could have an impact on your future claims.”

Welfare Reform Minister Lord Freud said: "Benefit thieves are costing the taxpayer almost £1billion per year.

"This money is intended to help those most in need not line the pockets of criminals. We will continue to tackle this problem at the frontline but also at the root by reforming the benefits system to make it less open to abuse."

Anybody wishing to report a suspicion of benefit fraud can do so by emailing as much detail as possible to benefitsfraud@redditchbc.gov.uk or by ringing the investigation team during office hours on 01527 534011.