"Court sympathy can only last so long"

Sunday 24 November 2019

A 30-year-old woman has been sentenced to four months in prison after committing benefit fraud for a second time within two years.

Haidee Moore let a man stay with her from 4 April to 10 May this year, whilst continuing to claim single person income support.

She was described in the island's Magistrate's Court as an "experienced claimant", having been receiving benefits since 2004.

In January this year, she claimed to be living alone and maintained that when a complaint was made in March. However, surveillance evidence showed a man was living with her.

During an interview in May, Moore said she understood the rules surrounding income support claims and denied the offence again, before confessing.

Pictured: The defendant will spend time in Les Nicolles.

In her mitigation, Defence Advocate Sam Steel said he did "not accept that the public purse has suffered" because of the man's low wage. He had allegedly slept on the sofa for "emotional support" and had not been in a relationship with the defendant at the time.

However, looking back on Moore's two previous convictions of a very similar nature, Judge Gary Perry explained how he "didn't put much weight" in her circumstances. Her last offence was of the same nature back in 2017 when she was given a community service order, but failed to complete a single hour of work and therefore went to prison.

"The court sympathy and empathy can only last so long," Judge Perry added on sentencing. "Anyone committing these offences is, in effect, cheating their friends and neighbours."

The offence is estimated to have cost the States around £2,000 which Moore is gradually paying back.

She has been sentenced to four months in prison.

Pictured top: The Royal Court House.