Senior politician accused of £32,000 benefit fraud
[Image: Kanjin Tor. Thanks to Kanjin for the link to this story.]
A SENIOR Hampshire politician has appeared in court after being charged with fraudulently receiving £32,000 in benefits.
Tory councillor George Ringrow appeared in Fareham Magistrates Court yesterday accused of two counts relating to dishonestly failing to notify authorities of changes of circumstances affecting his entitlement to benefits.
The Hampshire County Council representative for Fareham Town ward spoke only to confirm his name and address as he stood in the dock wearing a black coat, over a light coloured shirt and blue tie.
The, 67-year-old, of Paxton Road, Fareham, is accused of failing to notify changes of circumstances surrounding pension credits he allegedly received between May 11, 2009, and April 1 of last year when he was allegedly also receiving an occupational pension.
The case was adjourned to Portsmouth Crown Court on March 7 when he is expected to enter a plea.
Ringrow has been suspended from the county council’s ruling Conservative group pending the outcome of the case.
But the politician – who received unconditional bail – will continue his role serving as a county councillor.
Source: Senior politician accused of £32,000 benefit fraud (From Daily Echo)
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It slipped his mind and he had forgotten all about it, he gets a stern warning and told not to do it again.
i thought the idea of MPs having an 11% rise was to eradicate the need for expenses ?
apparently not, a case of much must have more,its disgusting nothing more than pure greed.
we cant claim expenses for the things they can,so why should they be able to ?
Yet another dishonest Tory hypocrite. I hope this gets national press/media coverage.
make him lose his job and pay all the money back with interest.
Interesting it was the Council driving this prosecution maybe not DWP. Not clear if his alleged benefits lapse was related to DWP Health or pension related benefits but whatever it will be interested to see that his case gets the same treatment as others less politically connected..
AH yes, pension benefit fraud – we don’t hear about that much do we, but it dwarfs unemployment and disability benefit fraud. Can’t recall the source, but I do recall the figure of 1.3%, which considering Pension Benefit account for more than 65% of benefits is going to be a whole lot more than 0..7% fraud on the whole working age benefit bill.
Will he be forced to pay it back like commoners do? Or will he get off lightly coz he’s a Tory. Wonder what his colleague, Ian Duncan Smith has to say eh!! Probably keeping schtum!! Make him pay every penny back, if it means making him bankrupt. Then force him to attend the foodbank. If its good enough for us, its good enough for him. Bloody hypocrite and low-life.