News / International
Zimbabwean benefits thief spared jail term
11 Sep 2011 at 07:05hrs | Views
A Zimbabwe asylum seeker in the United Kingdom who pocketed more than £60,000 by falsely claiming benefits over a period of seven years has been spared jail.
Nobesuthu Sibanda, 40, who went to UK from Zimbabwe, claimed incapacity and housing benefits despite working for two employers.
Sibanda, of Minister Court, Gateshead, was given a 12-month jail sentence suspended for two years, and ordered to do 80 hours' unpaid work.
She received a total of £60,951 after making a claim for benefits on 21 February 2003. Sibanda appeared at Newcastle Crown Court yesterday after pleading guilty to fraud.
She avoided a jail sentence after the prosecution were unable to determine if she had been working at HFW Plastics – one of her employers – on the day she made her claim. It is claimed that the company (HFW) went into liquidation in 2009, so the records have been destroyed.
Sue Hird, prosecuting, told the court: "On the 21 February 2003 she made her claim. On the claim form she said she was in hospital between the November 10, 2003 and December 22, 2003 – the months prior to submitting the claim.
"Whilst I cannot say she was definitely working that day, this was fraudulent from the outset."
Tony Hawk, defending, said "While there was an over-payment of £60,951 over the course of seven years, this is a woman of previous good character, with a son, and who has worked hard.
"She is paying the money back.
"That has not been recovered yet."
The court heard that Sibanda had so far repaid £948 of the £60,951 she claimed.
Judge Roger Thorn told her: "You have pleaded guilty to a serious offence of making false statements.
"But there are a number of matters that I take into account.
"Given your plea of guilt I can unusually reduce the sentence that can be given"
Details of Sibanda's second job were not disclosed to the court.
Nobesuthu Sibanda, 40, who went to UK from Zimbabwe, claimed incapacity and housing benefits despite working for two employers.
Sibanda, of Minister Court, Gateshead, was given a 12-month jail sentence suspended for two years, and ordered to do 80 hours' unpaid work.
She received a total of £60,951 after making a claim for benefits on 21 February 2003. Sibanda appeared at Newcastle Crown Court yesterday after pleading guilty to fraud.
She avoided a jail sentence after the prosecution were unable to determine if she had been working at HFW Plastics – one of her employers – on the day she made her claim. It is claimed that the company (HFW) went into liquidation in 2009, so the records have been destroyed.
Sue Hird, prosecuting, told the court: "On the 21 February 2003 she made her claim. On the claim form she said she was in hospital between the November 10, 2003 and December 22, 2003 – the months prior to submitting the claim.
"Whilst I cannot say she was definitely working that day, this was fraudulent from the outset."
"She is paying the money back.
"That has not been recovered yet."
The court heard that Sibanda had so far repaid £948 of the £60,951 she claimed.
Judge Roger Thorn told her: "You have pleaded guilty to a serious offence of making false statements.
"But there are a number of matters that I take into account.
"Given your plea of guilt I can unusually reduce the sentence that can be given"
Details of Sibanda's second job were not disclosed to the court.
Source - Byo24News
