Abersychan woman could face jail for £108,000 benefit fraud (From South Wales Argus)
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Abersychan woman could face jail for £108,000 benefit fraud
11:20am Saturday 20th October 2012 in News
BENEFIT FRAUD: Paula Carton
A PONTYPOOL woman could face prison after she admitted stealing almost £108,000 in benefits, a court heard yesterday.
Paula Carton, 49, of Snatchwood Road, Abersychan, stole the money over a nine year period.
Carton stood in the dock at Newport Crown Court yesterday and entered guilty pleas to all four offences.
This included the theft of £54,817 between September 21, 2002, and October 16, 2008, of money belonging to the Department of Work and Pensions.
She also stole £46,332.51 from Torfaen council between September 23, 2002, and June last year and another £6,566.25 from the council between September 23, 2002, and October 9, 2008.
Carton admitted one count of fraud which was committed between January 15, 2007, and October 16, 2008, where she dishonestly failed to disclose information including that she was residing with Richard Wellesby and which affected the income support she was entitled to.
A spokesman for the Department of Work and Pensions said Carton was dishonestly claiming housing benefit and income support.
Carton's defence barrister said there are "very, very extenuating circumstances" in this case and said Carton is a woman of previous good character.
Judge Niclas Parry told Carton she had had the "good sense" to plead guilty as she will be given maximum credit for her guilty pleas.
He adjourned the case until November 12 for reports to be carried out and ordered Carton to meet with a probation officer.
He said: "It's very important that the court knows as much as it can about you."
The judge released Carton on unconditional bail.
He told her: "I'd be misleading you if I did not tell you to prepare for custody but we'll see what happens on November 12."
Comments(14)
ableargler
says...
5:36pm Sat 20 Oct 12
bobjones2011
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5:41pm Sat 20 Oct 12
focus 12
says...
6:01pm Sat 20 Oct 12
richie55
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9:06pm Sat 20 Oct 12
Peoplewithstandardsarenotsnobs
says...
9:08pm Sat 20 Oct 12
Nobody's perfect & we all make mistakes, but every single one of these cheats know precisely what they are actively doing!
I wonder what state our roads, schools & hospitals could be in with all that extra £??
I would love to hear the self-justifying excuses these thieves offer when caught!
Rant over. Out
gardener88
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12:17am Sun 21 Oct 12
Robodad
says...
9:26am Sun 21 Oct 12
gardener88, either get a life or try google chrome with an adzap or pop-up blocker add-on.
ncfcr
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10:25am Sun 21 Oct 12
PeoplewithstandardsaI agree entirely. Me and my partner both work to support a young family. We get:-
renotsnobs wrote:
I run 2 businesses & clock up around 70 hours a week which does have its benifits but is certainly hard work - subsequently I contribute my fair share in tax. I take it quite personally when these scagers decide to steal money from our support system intended for genuine causes. Not somebody who's a bit short for thier cigarettes, booze, sky packages & flatsreens!!!!! (yes i am stereo-typing!)
Nobody's perfect & we all make mistakes, but every single one of these cheats know precisely what they are actively doing!
I wonder what state our roads, schools & hospitals could be in with all that extra £??
I would love to hear the self-justifying excuses these thieves offer when caught!
Rant over. Out
- No assistance with the rent
- No assistance with the council tax
- No assistance with any energy supply
- Have been on the waiting list for a council house for almost 7 years
- Tax credits cut to £0 because we apparently earn too much, yet HMRC has never asked to see what we have going OUT each month.
All the while, total and utter scrotes like this are on the take and living the life of luxury. Send the scummer to prison and whilst you're at it, revamp the system so those who genuinely contribute to it can take a bit out when they are in desperate need of it.
rugbytaff
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11:33am Sun 21 Oct 12
jail is not the answer to this. Payback plus interest from both of them by reducing health benefits banning from claiming housing and council tax benefits until the total amount is paid back
Robodad
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5:33pm Sun 21 Oct 12
Dai the Milk
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6:45pm Sun 21 Oct 12
Robodad wrote:That's assuming she is unhealthy. I saw a guy in a wheelchair remonstrating with supermarket staff about lack of access in the aisles the other day who half an hour later got out of his wheelchair and walked to the cashpoint and looked fitter than me. It's all about what you want to believe. I know numerous people like this. We are soft targets and pushovers in this country.
rugbynaff, do you really think that putting her health at further risk by cutting health care and her housing benefit so she (and her family) have to live in sub-standard housing is really the way to deal with her? Imagine how much more that would cost the tax payers, dealing with long term health care for her and her family. Also, do you know for a fact that her partner also committed a crime? If not, how can you say that he should be punished? Really, please engage brain or refrain from commenting when you are in an area you have no knowledge of.
Dolieboy
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7:16am Mon 22 Oct 12
gardener88 wrote:yes it's becoming the South Wales popup. Can't see me staying here.
serious these pop ups need to stop!!
chris227
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7:31am Mon 22 Oct 12
Dai the Milk says...
12:06pm Sat 20 Oct 12