Bristol homeowner spared jail for benefit fraud
A Bristol property owner who drew £9,800 housing benefit, claiming to be a tenant, has been handed a suspended jail term.
Glenis Chard received the payments from Bristol City Council between December 2005 and September 2007, the city's crown court heard.
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The court was told if she had made legitimate claims she might well have been better off.
Chard, 63, of Rossiter Grange, Bishopsworth, pleaded guilty to two counts of making a false statement to obtain benefit.
Handing her a 12-week prison sentence, suspended for two years, Judge Carol Hagen told her: "I'm quite satisfied a custodial sentence has to be imposed.
"I think I can suspend that sentence of imprisonment because of your previous good character, your guilty plea at the very first opportunity and the state of your health."
The judge ordered Chard to observe a 28-day curfew, in which she must stay at home between 10pm and 8am on electronic tag.
A hearing to confiscate proceeds of crime in the case was scheduled for December 2.
Alan Fuller, prosecuting, told the court that from April 2006, Chard made a claim to the city council for housing benefit and asked it to be backdated to December 2005 because ill health had prevented her from claiming previously.
Mr Fuller said Chard submitted a tenancy agreement between herself and Chew Valley Estates, which she said was the landlord's agent.
The court heard that in September 2006 Chard reapplied for housing benefit regarding another home in Rossiter Grange, submitting a tenancy arrangement with the same agent.
Mr Fuller said: "In November 2007 an investigation revealed the defendant owned both properties."
Chard told authorities it had been intended that she would be a tenant and work for the agent, but she had been unable to do so.
She made mortgage payments with housing benefit she was not entitled to receive, Mr Fuller said.
Julie Phillips, defending, said her client suffered from severe arthritis and her mental and emotional health had further suffered due to the stress of the prosecution.
She said: "Had she put her mind to what she was doing she might have realised that making the representation she knew to be incorrect was not a sensible way forward."
19 Comments
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by anon, Bristol
Friday, August 28 2009, 8:03PM
“So does her "previous good character" record dismiss the fact her son owns Chew valley estate agency and was this not common knowledge? This was unashamed fraud. Jail her!”
by anon, Bristol
Friday, August 28 2009, 7:01PM
“A disgusting, dispicable, scrounging, ill educated thief that has been let off far too lightly.
She makes me sick. She should have the houses repossessed and made to pay back every penny with interest.
Lets hope she's not claiming for her disability.”
by annomonus, bristol
Friday, August 28 2009, 11:35AM
“she should be shot its absolutly pathetic and there is noway she deserves it she critasises everyone but yet she is a lying cheating person herself coming from somebody who knows her and her family personaly i recon she isnt even worth are taxes to keep her in prison let her suffer on the outside. or better still make her do comunity serivce show her what hard work is and what people paying her benifits have to work like.”
by Tom, Local
Thursday, August 27 2009, 7:59PM
“Not many comments about benefits fraud here. Odd that.”
by Martin, DLA Office
Thursday, August 27 2009, 2:50PM
“She should have her sticks confiscated and be jailed for life.”
by Julraj, Clifton, Bristol
Thursday, August 27 2009, 2:42PM
“She's clearly some kind of robotic granny out to own us all.”
by MB, Bristol
Thursday, August 27 2009, 12:45PM
“Better still Steve, why not just get the money back from her ?
If she can't afford it sell the house and take it from the proceeds.
Sorted”
by Rachael, bristol
Thursday, August 27 2009, 12:13PM
“This makes me sick.
You have the amazingly brave kid on the other page of this site fighting through Chemo and still going to his football training, and then excuses for humanity like this.
Look in the mirror madam, are you proud of what you see?”
by steve, Bristol
Thursday, August 27 2009, 11:33AM
“What i don't understand is that by de-frauding the benefit agency and using the money gained to oay the mortgage company >>> Isn't that money laundering.
Why doesn't the benefits agency recoup the money from the mortgage company so has no cost to us tax payers as it can be used elsewhere as taking property off of her will not recoup the thousands she has stolen. The Mortgage co can then proceed to recoup their losses from this woman and if not re-possess the house/houses! That would be punishment enough and i feel the right way forward. It would send a message to potential fraudsters not to bother as action will be taken, not a light hearted slap on the wrist”
by Farouk Shabal, Bristol
Thursday, August 27 2009, 10:28AM
“Incompetencies all round.
I bet they even put the tag on the wrong leg.
Why have we become so nice to people of limited ambition, intellect and contribution.?
In return for all her acknowledged crimes, she'll be sitting watching a large TV tonight, grinning to herself with a celebratory glass of Blue Nun in one hand and a knitting needle in the other.”