A 49-year-old woman from Wales is preparing to sell her cherished caravan after a court judge told her to do so in order to pay back thousands of pounds in benefits she claimed illegally.
Sandra Hill was lucky to escape a jail term after deceiving authorities into providing her with £32,266 in income support and housing support benefits, and a council tax reduction for being a single person living alone.
These claims were made despite co-habiting a home in Beddau with partner Roger Sheldon and sharing a joint bank account for a number of years.
According to WalesOnline, Ms Hill ultimately avoided a jail sentence because of the recent loss of her son and the fact she is currently looking after grandchildren, all while paying back some £250 a month.
Nevertheless, judge William Gaskell, who presided over the case in Cardiff Crown Court, called on the defendant and her partner Mr Sheldon to sell the caravan in Fontygary Bay, near Rhoose, to settle a compensation order.
“Exceptionally, I am persuaded to suspend your six-month prison sentence but the money remains outstanding and the public have the right to be compensated,” the judge said.
Ms Hill must pay £2,500 to the Department of Work and Pensions and the same amount to Rhondda Cynon Taf Council over the next three months, as well as completing 200 hours of unpaid community work.
