Recruiting Times: Former Chief Exec of Recruitment Agency Charged. The prosecution alleges in excess of £200k of claims were fraudulent.A Warrington woman claimed benefits whilst working at a recruitment agency a court heard.
Rebecca Healey, aged 24, was receiving council tax and housing benefits despite being in paid employment.
Warrington Magistrates Court heard how Healey had worked for a Recruitment Agency for a week in November 2012, and then later started a full time job with a different agency in March 2013.
The defendant falsely claimed over £2,000 in housing benefit alongside £400 in council tax benefits.
The court heard Warrington Borough Council had invited her to attend numerous appointments to discuss the claim, but Healey did not attend.
Healey has yet to pay any money back and was not represented in court.
She pleaded guilty to two counts of producing a false statement to obtain social security benefits and sentenced to an 18 month conditional discharge, and told to pay £160 costs.
When asked to explain her actions in court, Healey said “I didn’t do it on purpose, to be fraudulent.”
“It was the first time I’d been living on my own, knowing what I had to do in terms of paying council tax and rent”
