THREE people from Redditch were in court last week over benefit fraud offences.

Gary O'Neill, aged 37, of Bordesley, originally attended Redditch Magistrates Court on August 15.

He pleaded guilty to four offences of dishonestly claiming Incapacity Benefit, Income Support and Council Tax Benefit totalling £3,486 between February and August 2006 by failing to declare to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and Redditch Council that he was working as a shop fitter.

The case was adjourned until September 12 for a pre-sentence report.

The magistrates considered the report and said they had taken into account his early guilty plea.

They sentenced O'Neill to six months' community service and attached a supervisory requirement.

Victoria Rollason, aged 38, of Church Hill, pleaded guilty to dishonestly claiming Income Support, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit of £2,531 between January and July 2006 by failing to declare to the DWP and the council that she was working as a restaurant supervisor for a local company.

Following a pre-sentence report, Rollason was given a conditional discharge for 12 months and ordered to pay a compensation order to the council for £2,531.

In both cases, the fraud came to light through a data match made by the DWP who invited Redditch Council to join the investigation to ensure the full extent of offences were uncovered.

Michelle Wakefield, aged 25, of Winyates, was originally due to appear on August 15 but the case was adjourned until September 12 at the request of her solicitor.

She was summoned on offences of dishonestly claiming Income Support, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit amounting to £2,437 between the end of May 2006 and November 2006 by failing to declare to the DWP and the council that she was no longer a lone parent, as she was living with her partner who was in full-time work.

After seeking advice from the duty solicitor, Wakefield pleaded guilty to all offences.

The magistrates said in these circumstances they would normally look towards some type of community punishment.

But as she had shown remorse and made it obvious she was aware of the seriousness of her actions, she was given a conditional discharge for 12 months and ordered to pay compensation orders of £648 to the DWP and £1,788 to the council.

This case started following a telephone call to the council's Investigations Team.