Pension credit fraudster ordered to repay £36,000 in benefits

A pensioner has been ordered to repay more than £36,000 in benefits after fraudulently claiming pension credit, housing benefit and Council Tax reduction over a seven year period.

Keith Hirst, of Primrose Way, Lydney, pleaded guilty at Gloucester Crown Court to having wrongly claimed handouts between 2015 and January 22, 2023.

The retiree wrongly claimed housing benefit between December 30, 2019 to January 22, 2023, Pension Credit between May 9 2015 to April 1, 2022, and claimed Council Tax reduction between December 30, 2019 and January 22, 2023.

Hirst had claimed the benefits despite earning money as a piano tutor.

The pensioner had wrongly received Council Tax benefit after claiming Pension Credit was his only source of income. He further applied for full Council Tax reduction on the basis he had no earnings from employment.

Prosecutor Alexandra Wilson said: “During the course of the investigation Hirst’s bank account was examined between January 20, 2018, and June 11, 2020, which detailed a lot of unexplained income going through his account.

“He then admitted to the investigator that he had been self-employed whilst claiming benefits and stated that he would be happy to pay back what he owed.”

Defending, Catherine Spedding said that Hirst was “extremely remorseful over his actions”

She added: “He is really a law-abiding citizen and has chosen to repay the amount he owes.”

The court was told that Hirst had paid back the £5,567 Council Tax rebate he had claimed, reduced his Housing Benefit debt by £2,200 and closed the cap on how much Pension Credit he owed to £5,771.

Judge Recorder Ramin Pakrooh ruled that no custodial sentence was necessary because Hirst’s “remorse is genuine”.

The pensioner was instead ordered to repay the outstanding £22,714 of wrongly claimed benefits.

Pakrooh said: “Hirst has made significant inroads on the debt he owes, which amounted to £36,253 over a period of some time.”

“I do recognise that this conviction will not sit easily with you, especially as the custody threshold has been crossed.

“However it seems to me because of the efforts that you have already made, that a real alternative to custody should be sought, especially as your remorse is genuine.”

Hirst was sentenced to a 12-month community order as well as repaying the money he owes.

He was further ordered to pay a contribution to prosecution costs of £150 and undertake 100 hours of unpaid work.