A woman in the UK has been ordered to repay over £44,000 after fraudulently claiming benefits and council tax reductions for more than six years by concealing her marital status. Judith Blackmore, 64, of Beverley in East Riding of Yorkshire, never disclosed she was in a relationship when she applied for and received Universal Credit and a council tax reduction.
Blackmore, who owns a horsebox refurbishment business, claimed to be single with no other income or capital. She had stated she was living with a joint tenant and had no savings when she initially applied for Universal Credit in October 2018. She also signed a declaration confirming the information was correct and that she would promptly report any changes.
In July 2019, she reported a change of address and housing costs, stating she would be living with another tenant in the Beverley area. However, an investigation into bank statements for Blackmore and her alleged co-tenant revealed financial interdependency, suggesting they were more than just housemates. Large sums of money were transferred between their accounts, with the man transferring £96,000 into Blackmore's account and her transferring £73,000 to him.
The fraud unraveled when investigators from the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) discovered photographs on her Facebook profile. The images included her hen do, wedding, and honeymoon in Cyprus. One post from May 3, 2024, showed Blackmore in a blue gown standing beside her husband, with a caption thanking those who helped make their day special. A week prior, she had posted about her "second hen do," a champagne-fuelled train journey with friends.
Investigators also obtained Blackmore's marriage certificate. During an interview, Blackmore admitted that the information she had concealed would have affected her benefit payments. She claimed that while she and her partner had lived together since 2011, they were not always a couple. Companies House records indicated that the man was a director of Blackmore's horseboxes company.
Blackmore pleaded guilty to fraud by failing to disclose information to East Riding of Yorkshire Council between July 1, 2019, and June 17, 2024, and to the DWP between September 18, 2018, and June 17, 2024. Hull Crown Court heard she was overpaid a total of £44,415, comprising £40,023 from Universal Credit and £4,392 from the council tax discount.
Mitigating, Julia Baggs stated that Blackmore had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity and was deeply sorry for her actions, recognizing the dishonesty involved. She explained that Blackmore had been juggling multiple responsibilities, including caring for her mother and starting her business, and had "buried her head in the sand."
Blackmore is currently repaying the fraudulently obtained money at £300 per month. Recorder Richard Wright KC handed Blackmore a 16-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, and ordered her to complete 120 hours of unpaid work. He emphasized the persistent dishonesty over a long period and warned her that any further offenses would result in the activation of her suspended sentence.