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Former TV and radio presenter pleads guilty to benefit fraud (12 January 2015)

Date: 12/01/2015
Duncan Lewis, Legal News Solicitors, Former TV and radio presenter pleads guilty to benefit fraud

A former television presenter has been found guilty of a £65,000 benefit fraud.

The Daily Mail reports that Anne Salter, 49, from Shepperton in Middlesex, had previously worked on BBC Radio 4 and BBC Radio 5, as well as Channel 5, Sky Sports and The Travel Channel.

However, Ms Salter told the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and Spelthorne Borough Council that she was unable to work because of depression – but after she posted her CV online advertising her work, benefit fraud investigators launched an investigation.

The CV described her as “an experienced and glamorous presenter” – with a “love of the fast-moving, exotic and challenging”. The CV also mentioned hosting red carpets events and car launches in the South of France.

There is no suggestion that any of the work detailed on the CV was carried out while Ms Salter was claiming benefits – but the court heard that, since 2005, she received more than £30,000 in housing benefit, £28,000 in income support and £7,000 in Council Tax benefit after claiming welfare benefits on the basis that she was unfit to work because of depression.

Ms Salter – who lives with her partner – pleaded guilty to benefit fraud at Guildford Crown Court and will be sentenced later in January.

She has already paid £35,000 of the £65,478.95 benefit overpayment – and may be ordered to repay the remainder when she is sentenced.

The DWP has pledged to crack down on benefit fraud, which cost the UK £1.2 billion last year.

Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith has said that benefit fraud has come to be seen as a “money making scam” by some criminals.

“We know that the vast majority of people play by the rules. However, benefit fraud is a serious crime and I’m determined to root out the unscrupulous minority who are cheating money out of hardworking taxpayers and diverting it from those who need it most,” said Mr Duncan Smith.

”Last year we recouped over a billion pounds – but we want to go further to toughen up the system, giving our fraud investigators greater powers,” he added.

“Universal Credit will make it harder to commit benefit fraud in the first place and easier to detect.”

Universal Credit is currently being rolled out across the UK – and will combine a whole range of welfare benefits into a single payment.

Richard West from the DWP’s fraud and error service said:

“Anyone found guilty of fraud will have to pay the stolen money back and under tougher new rules they will have to do so more quickly – that’s on top of any prison sentence or fine … These cases send a clear message to any criminals cheating the system that we have the means to catch them and bring them to justice.”

Duncan Lewis Benefit Fraud Solicitors

Duncan Lewis is a leading firm of benefit fraud solicitors and can advise at any stage of a charge for benefit fraud, including charges relating to Universal Credit as well as Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income Support, Disability Living Allowance, Council Tax Relief, Housing Benefit and Child Tax Credits.

Duncan Lewis is also a leading firm of Legal Aid solicitors.

For expert legal advice on benefit fraud charges, call Duncan Lewis Fraud Solicitors on 020 7923 4020.

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