Benefit fraud prosecutions

Under the Local Government Transparency Code 2015, we publish details of successful benefit fraud prosecutions.

  • You can view a list of successful prosecutions

    Debra Ballantine, of Witham, admitted two charges of fraud by failing to disclose information when she appeared at Colchester Magistrates' Court on August 19, 2025.

    Ballantine was overpaid £25,324.48 in universal credit and £1,329.56 in council tax support over the period of April 2019 to October 2022.

    She was sentenced at Chelmsford Crown Court on November 11 to eight months’ imprisonment for universal credit fraud and eight months for council tax support fraud, to be served concurrently.

    Paul Jones of The Spinney, Witham pleaded guilty of two benefit fraud offences at Chelmsford Magistrates on June 6, 2024.

    He had failed to declare that his Universal Credit had ceased and that he had started work. As a result he received £1926.82 in Council Tax Support that he wasn’t entitled to.

    He was fined £650 along with a victim surcharge of £246 and was ordered to pay costs of £451.45, as well as having to repay the overpaid Council Tax Support.

Benefits Advice

Address: Causeway House
Bocking End
Braintree
Essex
CM7 9HB

Telephone: 01376 557852

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