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Benefits cheat jailed for second time after failing to pay back cash

A convicted benefits cheat, who made bogus claims totalling tens of thousands of pounds, has been jailed for failing to pay back the money.

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Rashpal Kaur raked in excess housing and council tax benefit over six years after lying about her circumstances to Sandwell Council.

An investigation also revealed that, in addition to the £35,000 she had illegally received in benefits, a further £190,000 had passed through her bank accounts, although investigators are unsure what that money was and where it had come from.

The 47-year-old, of Europa Avenue, West Bromwich was sentenced to 32 months in prison in May 2012 and ordered to repay almost £225,000 by March 2015 or face a further 32 months in prison.

But a hearing at Birmingham Magistrates Court was told she has made no effort to repay the money.

Mark Jackson, prosecuting on behalf of Sandwell Council at the hearing on July 9, stated that Kaur had adopted an obstructive attitude throughout the proceedings and had made no effort to realise any assets, nor had she provided any evidence that she had attempted to do so.

Deputy District Judge Johnson said that as she had made no effort to repay the money, he had no option other than to send her to prison.

The decision was welcomed by Sandwell Council leader Councillor Darren Cooper who said: "The Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 is intended to be draconian in nature.

"It is intended to deal with offenders in a way which penalises their criminality, deprives them of their ill-gotten gains and commits them to custody if they fail and/or refuse to pay.

"It is an opportunity for local councils to be at the forefront of protecting local communities by showing that crime does not pay and we will not hesitate to use these powers in appropriate cases."

Kaur, who was was found guilty after a trial of 18 counts of fraud, three counts of money laundering one count of perverting the course of justice, will have to serve the full 32 months unless payment is made in full. She will still be liable to repay the full amount upon her release.

Kaur had wrongly claimed thousands of pounds as a single mother who was unemployed and without income and savings.

In fact she was working in a call centre for vehicle breakdown company AA. Kaur who had experience working in a benefits office, claimed housing benefit, council tax benefit plus carers allowance she was not entitled to over a six year period.

She also made fraudulent claims on behalf of a friend and, after being charged, tried to cover her tracks by getting her pal to send in a letter with an incorrect version of events.

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