Tetbury resident sentenced for Council Tax and Benefit fraud

At a hearing last month, Tracey Goodfield of Tetbury changed her plea to guilty to three charges of dishonestly failing to notify changes in her circumstances which affected her benefit entitlement.

Ms Goodfield failed to notify the Council that she had moved out of her Bromford Housing property for which she claimed Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support, to live in Bristol with her partner as she worked in the city, resulting in an overpayment of Housing Benefit of £23,031.01, and an incorrect reduction in her Council Tax of £3,869.44. Ms Goodfield also failed to notify the Department of Work and Pensions, that she had moved in with her partner resulting in an overpayment of Employment and Support Allowance of £19,470.31, all between August 2017 and May 2021.

On October 3 Ms Goodfield was sentenced at Gloucester Crown Court to one year in prison suspended for 18 months.

The investigation was instigated by officers from the Counter Fraud and Enforcement Unit at Cotswold District Council, after the Council received information that Ms Goodfield was offering her property for let.

Cllr Mike Evemy, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance, said: “As a Council, we have a duty to prevent fraud and I’d like to thank our Counter Fraud team for their continuous hard work bringing people carrying out fraudulent activity to justice.

“The Council provides a range of support for those who are struggling financially, but the funds are limited and we have a responsibility to ensure the correct amounts go to the right people.”

You can find more information about Council Tax and Benefit support on our website.

Members of the public can contact Cotswold District Council with any concerns about Council Tax or Benefit fraud by email to their Counter Fraud and Enforcement Unit at fraud.referrals@cotswold.gov.uk