Fraud case a waste of cash
A COUNCIL trying to save cash has been accused of wasting taxpayers' money bringing a benefit fraud case against a woman after she was found innocent by magistrates.
Babergh District Council has been left counting the cost of taking the 37 year old to court after she refused to accept a caution over a housing benefit mix-up.
Emma Chamberlain suffered months of anguish after the district authority refused to accept her pleas over the overpayment, despite the fact that as soon as it came to light she re-paid the money.
The painter and decorator, from Great Cornard, endured the nightmare of feeling that her character and honesty were being questioned until Sudbury Magistrates dismissed the charge brought against her on June 9.
Miss Chamberlain said: "They made me feel like a criminal, they recorded an interview with me and it was very intimidating.
"I feel that the council tried to bully me into accepting a caution, and I think many people would accept one even if they are not guilty just to end it.
"If I hadn't had financial support from friends to fight this in court I would not have been able to take on Babergh District Council, and they know this."
Miss Chamberlain's ordeal began when she signed on as unemployed for the first time in her life in December, 2008.
She was advised by staff at Sudbury's Jobcentreplus that she would also be entitled housing benefit.
Having filled in the forms, Miss Chamberlain began receiving the benefits. When the painter began a new contract three months later, in February, 2009, she informed staff at the Jobcentre that she no longer needed the support, and said she thought that would be the end of it.
She later learned that Babergh District Council was claiming that from February to September she had been overpaid 1,059 in housing and council tax benefit.
As soon as she discovered the mistake, Miss Chamberlain set about paying the cash back. But having refused to accept a caution, as she felt that she hadn't deliberately deceived anyone, the district authority launched court action.
Pete Rowan, a friend who supported Miss Chamberlain throughout her battle with Babergh District Council, is disgusted by the way she was treated.
The 55-year-old, of Great Cornard, said: "Why was this case ever taken to court in the first place? It has cost the hard working Council Tax payers in the district thousands of pounds.
"They can not possibly justify the spending of our money on cases as clear-cut as this was, my friend has been bullied and made to feel like a criminal because of this pettiness."
Babergh District Council has prosecuted 118 cases of benefit fraud in the last five years through its zero tolerance policy- Miss Chamberlain's not guilty verdict is only the second during this time.
A spokeswoman for Babergh District Council said: "Babergh was surprised at the decision by Magistrates to return a not guilty verdict in this case.
"Babergh refutes any allegation of wrongdoing, or wasting taxpayers' money, in pursuing a prosecution in this case when every indication was that an offence had been committed.
"Babergh did offer an alternative to prosecution, a formal caution, but Miss Chamberlain declined to accept the Council's offer, leaving Babergh with no alternative but to take this matter to court."
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Friday 25 May 2012
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