Burnley woman must pay back £4,000 after benefits fraud

Asma Akram (27), of Brunshaw Avenue, Burnley, pleaded guilty at Reedley Magistrates’ Court to dishonestly making false statements in order to obtain housing and council tax benefits.

The court heard that Akram failed to declare that her partner was in paid employment. She wrongly claimed benefits totalling £4,009.11, which she will now have to pay back. Akram was also ordered to pay £300 costs to the council and was given a two-month curfew order, from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m.

Melanie Poole, from the council’s benefits investigations team, said: “We continue to work hard to protect public funds from benefit fraudsters and action will be taken against those found to be stealing from the honest taxpayers of the borough.

“Anyone who suspects that someone is committing housing or council tax benefit fraud should telephone us on our freephone hotline 0800 1691304.”