Fraudster who pocketed benefits gets two months (From Penarth Times)

Fraudster who pocketed benefits gets two months

A BENEFIT fraudster from Penarth is starting a two-month jail sentence this week after pocketing more than 850 of public money.

Alison Dondera, aged 45, of Labernum Way, was found guilty of four counts of defrauding the system from May 2003 to December 2004, when she appeared for sentencing at Barry Magistrates' Court on Friday .

Dondera has previously been convicted of similar offences, dishonestly claiming nearly 4,000 from 1999 to 2001. She was previously ordered to carry out a stint of community service.

However, magistrates at Friday's hearing felt a community service punishment had been ineffective, and a prison term was the only way to prevent her from re-offending.

Dondera was found guilty of three counts of dishonestly claiming benefits from the Department of Work and Pensions while she was in employment.

She was also convicted of falsely obtaining council tax benefits from the Vale of Glamorgan Council while she was working.

She had denied all four charges.

Dondera will spend two months in prison and another two under supervision in the community.

Anti-fraud minister James Plaskitt said: "We are taking benefits fraudsters very seriously, because they steal 1.5 billion a year - money that should be spent on schools and hospitals.

"If you suspect benefit fraud, call the national benefit fraud hotline on 0800 854440."