RESIDENTS have been encouraged to report any suspected fraudulent activity after a team at Cotswold District Council helped put a couple in court. 

Kelly Nicholls, aged 30, and her partner Antony Wilkins, aged 34, of Oakley Court, Kempsford, pleaded guilty to dishonestly failing to notify changes in their circumstances which affected their joint entitlement to Universal Credit at Gloucester Crown Court on Friday.

Nicholls was first interviewed about these crimes in July 2022 following a joint investigation by officers from the Department for Work and Pensions and the Cotswold District Council's Counter Fraud and Enforcement Unit. 

During the interview, Nicholls admitted that she had failed to declare that she had been breeding dogs and selling the puppies for £700 to £750 each - making a total of £61,885 from this.
 
As a result of failing to declare this income, the pair were overpaid £23,683 Universal Credit from the start of their claim in 2020 to December 2022. 

Nicholls also received an incorrect reduction in her council tax of £2,083 over the same period. 

The couple are now repaying £100 a month to the DWP and have entered into a similar arrangement with CDC to repay the outstanding council tax.  

Nicholls was sentenced for both the Universal Credit and Council Tax Reduction fraud and fined £100, must pay a £90 victim surcharge plus £3,500 in compensation.

Wilkins, who was prosecuted for the Universal Credit offences only, received a community order of 12 months and 120 hours unpaid work. 

Juliet Layton, cabinet member for planning and regulatory services, said: "It's disheartening to see individuals take advantage of systems designed to assist those facing hardship. 

"Fraudulent claims not only undermine the integrity of support programs but also divert resources away from those who truly require assistance.  

“The collaborative efforts of the Department for Work and Pensions and the council's Counter Fraud and Enforcement Unit are commendable in uncovering and addressing such deceit. 

"We encourage anyone with concerns about fraudulent activity to come forward, as safeguarding public funds is a collective responsibility." 

To contact CDC with any concerns about council tax or benefit fraud email fraud.referrals@cotswold.gov.uk.