Royal Borough councillor convicted of benefit fraud apologises to residents but refuses to stand down
A ROYAL Borough councillor convicted of benefit fraud has apologised to the village he represents, but has refused to stand down.
Cllr Peter Lawless, who represents Eton Wick ward, was given a two year conditional discharge after pleading guilty to three charges of failing to notify a change in circumstances which he knew affected his entitlement to benefit, at Slough Magistrates' Court, on Friday.
But speaking to The Observer, Cllr Lawless, who has resigned from the Conservative Group, said he would be 'doing the people of Eton Wick a disservice' if he stood down.
"That would not be the useful thing to do," he said.
"It would leave the people unrepresented and it would not be productive.
"I have got a lot of outstanding issues that I would like to resolve before my current term ends in May.
"I apologise to them [the people of Eton Wick] but I would like to think that what I have done for them is remembered and appreciated."
Cllr Lawless received £4,839.11 in housing benefit overpayments between May 16, 2011, and January 6, 2014, after applying for housing benefit in 2009 on the basis his Royal Mail wages could not cover rent.
After becoming a councillor in May 2011, until February 2014, he earned £19,590.48 in member allowance, 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 Lawless was also ordered to pay costs of £400 and a £15 victim surcharge. He was caught after an anonymous tip-off from a member of the public to the council's Beat the Cheat hotline.
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