Jail for Worthing pair who cheated system of £80K (From The Argus)
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Jail for Worthing pair who cheated system of £80K
8:39am Thursday 27th October 2011 in News
Benefit cheats who pocketed nearly £80,000 have been jailed for two years.
Alison Kalick, 37, and David Tongs, 56, of Quantock Road, Worthing, were found guilty of falsely claiming just under £80,000 over seven years.
Judge Wood told the pair at Chichester Crown Court on Tuesday that this was an “exceptional and shocking case” of fraud.
Ms Kalick and Mr Tongs were convicted of 14 offences of failing to disclose that Mr Tongs was living with her at three different addresses between 2003 and 2010.
During that time Ms Kalick had claimed benefits including income support and housing and council tax benefit.
They were arrested after a 20-month investigation by Worthing Borough Council and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
Judge Wood said the trial had “demonstrated their attitude of extreme selfishness and greed”.
A council spokeswoman said: “The investigation demonstrates the resolve of the council and the DWP to ensure that fraudulent claims for welfare benefits will be thoroughly, professionally and diligently investigated."
Comments(8)
tom servo
says...
9:27am Thu 27 Oct 11
Man With No Name
says...
9:53am Thu 27 Oct 11
Servalan
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11:00am Thu 27 Oct 11
Mary Chapman
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1:50pm Thu 27 Oct 11
Man With No Name
says...
4:30pm Thu 27 Oct 11
papa_melons
says...
8:40pm Thu 27 Oct 11
Mary Chapman wrote:are you completely out of your mind ?
I totally agree with Servalan, if they had been MPs or famous they would have probably got off with community service. I happen to know this couple have three young children and I think it is disgusting to take away both parents for two years. Surely it would be better to have fined them and given them community service. Yes they have done wrong but why make an example out of parents of young children. Now it is costing the authorities more money to keep them in prison and probably their children in care when they could have kept the family together and made more use out of them working for their crime and paying the money back.
Mary Chapman
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9:33pm Fri 28 Oct 11
papa_melons wrote:No I am completely sane and forgiving and caring. We have all made mistakes in life and everyone deserves a second chance. Yes it is their fault their children have been left without their parents and I don't know why they committed this fraud but can you honestly say that you have never done anything in your life that you regret? I know I can't.
Mary Chapman wrote:are you completely out of your mind ?
I totally agree with Servalan, if they had been MPs or famous they would have probably got off with community service. I happen to know this couple have three young children and I think it is disgusting to take away both parents for two years. Surely it would be better to have fined them and given them community service. Yes they have done wrong but why make an example out of parents of young children. Now it is costing the authorities more money to keep them in prison and probably their children in care when they could have kept the family together and made more use out of them working for their crime and paying the money back.
Joshiman says...
9:20am Thu 27 Oct 11