A REDDITCH woman has been fined £200 after pleading guilty to benefit fraud. Danielle Bramley, 26, of Dagtail Lane, Astwood Bank, appeared before Redditch Magistrates Court on Tuesday, February 17 for failing to notify Redditch Council and the Department for Work and Pensions that her partner was living with her. The court heard that she had continued to claim income support, housing benefit and council tax benefit as a lone parent, which resulted in her being overpaid £1,602.93 in benefits between February and May 2007.

Miss Bramley was fined £200, but magistrates said that this amount had been reduced from £300 because she had made an early guilty plea. She was ordered to pay a £15 victim surcharge and repay the overpaid housing benefit of £615.54 through a compensation order. The rest of the overpaid benefits will continue to be recovered separately.

A spokesperson for Redditch Council said: “This latest prosecution is a further reminder to anyone claiming benefit of the importance of reporting changes in their circumstances as soon as they take place.” Anybody wishing to report a suspected case of benefit fraud can call the council’s investigation team in confidence on 534011 during office hours or leave a message on the fraud hotline on 534164 at any time.