A grandmother who falsely claimed more than £43,000 in benefits and went on holiday has been ordered to pay back a fraction of that sum.
Geraldine Thomas was given a 12-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, in July last year and was back in court on Friday for a Proceeds of Crime Act hearing.
At her sentencing hearing , Recorder Patrick Harrington QC noted the money was spent on “an expensive holiday”.
The court heard she fraudulently claimed more than £43,000 in benefits over a five-year period.
Prosecutors said she failed to notify the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and Caerphilly council of a change in her circumstances between 2011 and 2016.
She claimed Income Support, Employment and Support Allowance, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction on the basis she was living alone.
But she was actually living with her partner, Raymond Adams, who was contributing to the household income.
During the sentencing hearing at Newport Crown Court , the court was told she used the money to fund a number of holidays to destinations such as Egypt for her and her partner.
The DWP and Gwent Police launched an investigation, monitoring Thomas and Mr Adams over a number of years.
They used a “search and seizure” order to enter the defendant’s home and gain evidence.
Thomas, 55, from Heolddu Grove in Bargoed , admitted three counts of benefit fraud.
Kathryn Lane, defending, said her client – a grandmother-of-two – had never been before the courts before.
She said: “[Thomas] foolishly engaged in this offending and is thoroughly ashamed and embarrassed by it.
“She is a valued and routinely relied and depended-upon family member and a valued member of the community.
“There have been a number of bereavements of close family members recently which has had an effect on her and she has been picking up the pieces of those closest to her.”
Recorder Harrington said: “No mention has been made of your lifestyle and I know what the money has been spent on. It was spent on an expensive holiday wasn’t it?
“Benefit fraud is rife and costs honest hardworking people a lot of money.”
During the Proceeds of Crime Act hearing at Cardiff Crown Court , it was found she wrongly gained £43,015.10 from her offending.
She had £6,500 available and was ordered to pay that amount within three months, or risk going to prison for three months.
