A FORMER Tetbury mayor who pleaded guilty to falsely claiming more than £27,000 in state benefits is due to be brought back to court.

Ann Pearce, aged 57, will appear at a hearing at Gloucester Crown Court on Monday, September 23. for a Proceeds of Crime Act hearing.

Pearce admitted dishonestly failing to notify the Department of Work and Pensions of a change of personal circumstances, which affected her entitlement to benefits between May 6, 2020 and November 9, 2022.

Pearce, of Upton Gardens, Tetbury, initially denied the allegation but eventually changed her plea to guilty in April. 

The prosecution, representing DWP, claimed that she was using her benefit money to help fund a “luxury lifestyle” which included holidays and eating out regularly.

At a hearing at Cheltenham Magistrates' Court, prosecutor Cathy Thornton said: “The informant suggests that Ms Pearce was using her benefits to fund a luxury lifestyle and was socialising nightly by eating in local pubs, shopping locally and going on holiday.

"A lot of this occurred whilst she was Mayor of Tetbury.”

Pearce was mayor of Tetbury in 2020.

DWP also made it clear it does not allege that Pearce was dishonest in her benefit claims from the outset - but their case is that she went on to claim a total of £27,314 in Personal Independence Payments to which she was not entitled because her health had improved.

At a sentencing hearing on May 24, she was ordered to complete a 12-month community order. 

Pearce is due to return to Gloucester Crown Court for a Proceeds of Crime Act hearing on Monday, September 23.

Any money earned as a result of, or in connection with, an offence can be recovered under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.

That also includes assets bought with the proceeds of crime.

These orders are based on how much a defendant has as assets and how much they are judged to have benefitted from their crime.

Ann Pearce is due to return to Gloucester Crown Court for a Proceeds of Crime Act hearing (Image: Newsquest)