A Brighton woman has been sentenced by magistrates after she admitted a £23,000 benefit fraud.
Siyapi Mawere, 48, of Upper Chalvington Place, Whitehawk, was given a six-month prison sentence suspended for two years when she appeared at Brighton Magistrates’ Court.
Magistrates said that the reasons for imposing a prison sentence – albeit a suspended one – were because of the size of the fraud and the numerous false claims made.
Mawere claimed housing benefit and council tax benefit from Brighton and Hove City Council from an address in Portslade, dating from 2012.
Two years ago she set up a company called KES Healthcare, registered to an address in Dean Close, Portslade. It was struck off in February.
Mawere was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £115 and prosecution costs of £85, making £200 in total.
A second person admitted benefit fraud at the same court. Adam Pienczewski, 46, of the Devil’s Dyke Hotel, at the Devil’s Dyke, claimed housing benefit from the council, saying the he was out of work. In fact he was working for pie maker Higgidy.
He was given a community sentence and ordered to carry out 80 hours of unpaid work for the offence which dates back three years.
In addition he was told to pay a £60 victim surcharge and £85 prosecution costs, making £145 in total.
No punishment at all, then – No jail time and £22,800 profit.
That’ll learn ‘er.
They’ll have to pay it back.
ive just tried reporting brighton housing benefit fraud thro the number on the website, its like trying to get an audience with the pope…..shoddy service from people trying to save u a lot of money and the 4 people ive spoken didnt have a clue between them