Couple claimed Universal Credit despite owning second home worth £170,000

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Couple claimed Universal Credit despite owning second home worth £170,000
A judge told the couple that 'stealing from the state is not an insignificant matter'
Vivian Park Drive, Pot Talbot
(Image: Google )
A couple applying for benefits did not disclose that they owned a second property which they were renting out, a court has heard. As a result of the fraud the couple pocketed £48,500 in universal credit over a four-year period
Swansea Crown Court heard the application for benefit payments by Brian and Frances Rowe was "fraudulent from the outset". A judge told the pair that "stealing from the state is not an insignificant matter" and their offending crossed the threshold for a custodial sentence.
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Ryan Bowen, prosecuting, told the court that in February, 2019, the Rowes made a claim for the universal credit benefit declaring they had savings, investments of capital of less than £6,000.
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The claim was approved, and the first payment was made the following month.
The court heard the couple had not declared that Brian Rowe owned a second property on the street where they lived, and had done for some 20 years.
When the couple made the application for benefit the second house was worth around £170,000 which would have made them ineligible for universal credit.
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The prosecutor said that in December, 2013, a claim for housing benefit had been made in respect of the second property with Mrs Rowe being named as the landlord, and he said the rent on that property had been £500 per month.
The court heard that as a result of the false declaration made by the defendants, between February, 2019, and August, 2023, the couple received £48,517 in overpayments they were not entitled to.
The prosecutor said it was the crown's case that the claim for universal credit had been "fraudulent from the outset". For the latest court reports sign up to our crime newsletter
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Brian Rowe, aged 63, and Frances Rowe, aged 58, both of Vivian Park Drive, Port Talbot, had previously pleaded guilty to dishonestly failing to notify a change of circumstances when they appeared in the dock.
Brian Rowe has one previous conviction for one offence of criminal damage; Frances Rowe has no previous convictions.
Huw Davies, representing both defendants, said the couple had re-mortgaged their home to raise money and had already started paying back what they owed.
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Judge Geraint Walters said it was clear from what he had read that the motivation for the offending had been financial, with Brian Rowe being unable to work at the time of the application due to ill-health leaving the couple with just Frances Rowe's income.
The judge said "stealing from the state is not an insignificant matter" and the offending crossed the custody threshold but he said on a proper application of the sentencing guidelines he could not justify a sentence of immediate custody even if he wanted to impose it.
With one-third discounts for their guilty pleas the defendants were each sentenced to six months in prison suspended for two years.
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A hearing will be held on June 24 to set a proceeds of crime timetable or to deal with the issue of confiscation and repayments.