Court sentences benefit fraudster

19 April 2010

On Monday 12 April at Wycombe Magistrates Court, Georgina Geannopoulou, 40, of Hepplewhite Close, High Wycombe was sentenced after pleading guilty at an earlier hearing to two counts of failing to declare changes in her circumstances to Wycombe District Council.

Whilst claiming Council Tax Benefit she had, twice, started work without informing the Council. This resulted in her being paid £2,941 in benefit that she was not entitled to.

Ms Geannopoulou was sentenced to undertake 40 hours of unpaid community work and ordered to pay £784 in costs. The overpaid benefit has been repaid.

This prosecution was the result of a thorough investigation carried out by the Investigations Section of the council.

If you have any suspicions that someone is committing Benefit Fraud, please report them by e-mail to fraudinvestigations@wycombe.gov.uk or by free-phone on 0800 0158 995.