Burnley woman faces jail after £30,000 benefits fraud conviction

A 48-year-old Burnley woman could be facing a jail term after owning up to a £30,000 benefits fraud over almost five years.

By Court reporter

Published 16th Jun 2015, 06:30 BST

Deborah Louise Fogg, of Coal Clough Lane, admitted four charges of dishonestly failing to notify a change of circumstances. She had been maintaining a common household with her husband David Fogg whilst claiming as a single person, Burnley Crown Court heard.

One allegation concerns income support from the Department for Work and Pensions, between July 6, 2009 and February 21, 2014 and a second count is regarding council tax benefit from Burnley Council, between July 13, 2009 and March 31, 2013.

A third accusation involves housing benefit from Burnley Council between July 13, 2009 and May 22, 2014 and the fourth charge concerns employment support allowance from the DWP, between February 22, 2014 and May 22, 2014.

The defendant’s sentence was adjourned until July 31, for a pre-sentence report, by Judge Beverley Lunt.