News Release
29 August 2008
Prosecution for benefit fraud
On Friday 22 August 2008, Jayne Talmondt (now Egan) of Havant,
was sentenced to 6 months imprisonment, suspended for two years,
and subjected to a 2 month curfew at Portsmouth Crown Court for
having earlier pleaded guilty at Portsmouth Magistrates to
dishonestly obtaining in excess of £40,000 by way of Income
Support, Housing Benefit and Council Tax
Benefit.
Miss Talmondt claimed the benefits when she was housed at her
current address in February 2003, stating that she was a single
parent. Following a tip-off from a member of the public,
investigators from Havant Borough Council and The Department for
Work & Pensions established that her story was not true as she
had moved into the house with her then partner, who was in
full-time work and supporting her.
In passing sentence, Judge Hetherington told her it would be
counter-productive to impose an unpaid work order as she was
already doing two jobs in an attempt to repay the authorities.
Hilary Hopgood, Revenues Client Manager for Havant Borough
Council said “We have dedicated investigators who are continuously
on the trail of people who are falsely claiming benefits. These
matters are taken very seriously.”
Anyone who wishes to report cases of suspected benefits fraud
can telephone Havant Borough Council’s fraud hotline on 023 9244
6349. An answerphone facility is available for all out of office
hours calls. All calls are treated in the strictest confidence