Benefit fraud couple found guilty

An anonymous tip-off led to a Clanfield couple being found guilty of defrauding more than £69,500 in Benefit over an eight year period.

Elizabeth Austin and Peter Brown were found guilty of 13 fraud offences between them and will be sentenced at Portsmouth Crown Court in August.

The couple had claimed that between 2002 and 2010 they were living in the same property as tenant and resident landlord, allowing Austin to claim benefits as a single parent.

In fact they were living together as a couple with shared outgoings and Brown was in full time employment.