Councillor given conditional discharge after pleading guilty to benefit fraud
ROYAL Borough Councillor Peter Lawless has been given a conditional discharge for receiving housing benefit while failing to declare his earnings as a councillor.
Cllr Lawless, the ward representative for Eton Wick, pleaded guilty to three charges of failing to notify a change in circumstances which he knew affected his entitlement to benefit at Slough Magistrates Court today (Friday).
He has also been suspended from the Conservative Group and following the verdict, is subject to 'further action'.
Cllr Lawless, who was caught thanks to an anonymous referral from a member of the public to the council's Beat the Cheat hotline, received £4,839.11 in housing benefit overpayments between May 16, 2011 and January 6 this year, after applying for housing benefit in 2009 on the basis that his Royal Mail wages could not cover rent.
After becoming a councillor in May 2011, until February of this year, he earned member allowance of £19,590.48 which he did not declare to the council's housing benefit team.
He also failed to notify the Royal Borough of monthly pension payments from the Royal Mail following a single lump sum payment of £13,998.88 on January 23, 2012.
Cllr Simon Dudley, cabinet member for finance, said: "As this case shows we will not hesitate to act when we uncover benefit fraud, no matter who is involved.
"I would like to say a huge thank you to the resident who tipped us off. It really flags up how important it is for the council and residents to work together to overcome what is effectively theft from council tax payers.
"While data matching is one of the ways we uncover benefit fraud, because of the confidentiality of residents' data this can take time"
Cllr Lawless was given a two year conditional discharge, and ordered to pay costs of £400 and a £15 victim surcharge.
Cllr David Burbage, council leader, said: "Cllr Lawless is currently suspended from the Conservative Group. This is not the standard the public expect from their elected representatives, and following this verdict we will be taking further action shortly, which we will announce when it has been agreed."
The council's confidential and free Beat the Cheat line for reporting suspected benefit fraud is on 0500 353300.
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