BENEFIT FRAUDSTER MOTHER INVENTED FAKE CHILD TO CLAIM 50,000

[Daanyeer]

Benefit fraudster mother invented fake child to claim £50,000 in hand-outs


By Daily Mail Reporter

10th August 2011



A benefit fraudster claimed for a baby who didn’t exist and pocketed almost £50,000 for childcare costs – when she did not even have a job.
Drug addict Michaela Bartlett, 33, came up with the scam after her two children were taken into care.

A court heard that in May 2008 she had started claiming tax credits for childcare after telling HM Revenue and Customs she was working 30 hours a week in a full-time job.

In September that year, her two children were taken into care amid concerns for their welfare, but Bartlett continued claiming tax credits.

In June 2010, she extended her fraud when she contacted the HMRC helpline to say she had given birth to another baby the month before.

Her bogus claims ended in October 2010 when she was arrested on suspicion of tax-credits fraud.
Last night HMRC officials were trying to establish how Bartlett, who had convictions for benefit fraud, was able to hoodwink the authorities so easily.

A source said: ‘Obviously we do everything we can to establish that people who claim financial assistance are telling the truth, but this case was an embarrassment.
‘Not only did she lie about a change of circumstance, but she also invented a child to continue the pretence and that is something that will be looked at.’
Barbara Webster, prosecuting, told Bolton Crown Court that Bartlett had obtained £49,734 in over-payments. But she escaped jail and was told that were it not for her immense difficulties and drug addiction she would have faced a lengthy spell behind bars.


Recorder John Bromley-Davenport QC said: ‘You pleaded guilty to fraudulent activity of which the public purse was deprived of over £49,000.
‘That was in the context of an extraordinary period of dishonesty of all kinds. I accept your personal difficulties and addiction to drugs.

‘I would have sent you to prison for quite a long time, but two factors weigh on my mind.’

Chris Dawson, defending, said: ‘She has suffered an extremely troubled and chaotic adult life. She has been plagued by serious drug addiction.’

He told the court Bartlett, of Bolton, was now on a methadone programme to tackle her addiction and had halved her intake since she got help from the community drugs team last August. He said Bartlett also had a legitimate job and was now working full time selling franking machines to businesses.

Bartlett pleaded guilty to four counts of fraud and was given a nine-month prison sentence suspended for two years.

She was also ordered to complete 120 hours of unpaid work and go on the New Direction Activity Requirement scheme, which involves attending sessions aimed at helping criminals to avoid future offending.

After sentencing, Mike O’Grady, assistant director of criminal investigation for HMRC, said: ‘Michaela Bartlett told blatant lies when she contacted HMRC.

‘Her two children didn’t live with her, she wasn’t in full-time employment and she paid no childcare costs at all. Anyone who thinks that tax-credits fraud will pay should be aware that we will investigate claims, and pursue those who bend the rules.’



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