Prison sentence for benefit cheat who fled to New Zealand

Council tracks down nurse who made false benefit claims

A senior nurse, who dishonestly claimed benefits totalling £47,503.62, was sentenced to 10 months imprisonment at Leicester Crown Court on 15th June 2007.

Tania Yvonne Taylor (age 39) formerly of Salisbury Avenue, Croft pleaded Guilty to 8 charges of benefit fraud between December 2001 and September 2005. During this period, she had not declared her various nursing posts; latterly as a Clinical Lead Nurse at Beaumont Leys Health Centre.

Mrs Taylor initially pleaded Not Guilty to all charges at Leicester Magistrates Court in October 2006. She maintained her Not Guilty plea at Crown Court on 19th December 2006 and unconditional bail was granted for a further hearing on 2nd February 2007.

Mrs Taylor failed to attend the court on 2nd February and a warrant was issued for her arrest. Investigations by Blaby District Council determined that Mrs Taylor had left the country with her partner and children and intended to re-locate in New Zealand.

Blaby DC investigators contacted the New Zealand immigration authorities; who confirmed that Mrs Taylor had entered the country on Christmas Day 2006 with a temporary work permit and was living in Mission Bay, an affluent area of Auckland, North Island. Her work permit was revoked and Mrs Taylor was given 42 days to leave New Zealand.

She was arrested on her arrival at Heathrow Airport and brought before Leicester Crown Court the next day. Her argument that she returned home voluntarily was not accepted and bail was refused. When she appeared in court again on 25th May 2007, she had changed her plea to Guilty on all 8 charges, but was again remanded in custody whilst awaiting the sentencing hearing.

Sentencing, His Honour Judge Morrell stated:

“There are few crimes which raise public anger more than benefit fraud. When someone steals benefit monies it affects us all”.

Councillor Ernie White, Leader of Blaby District Council said:

“I fully support the sentence given in this case. Our investigations officers must be congratulated for their tenacity – they were prepared to “go half way around the world” in order to bring Mrs Taylor to court. I hope that this sends out a clear message on just how seriously we take benefit fraud in Blaby and how far we will go to ensure that culprits are brought to justice.”

Note for Editors
This case was identified via The National Fraud Initiative 2004; an Audit Commission data match exercise to detect a wide range of frauds against the public sector.

The prosecution was a joint initiative with Job Centre Plus & Leicester City Council, in order for the full level of fraud to be brought before the court.

Mrs Taylor was sentenced to 8 months concurrently for each benefit offence plus a further 2 months for her breach of bail.