Benefits fraudster falsely claimed £33,000 in Universal Credit while spending £280,000 inheritance on clothes

A 37-year-old woman has falsely claimed £33,000 in Universal Credit while splashing her £280,000 inheritance on clothes.

Aimee Jeffrey, from Portsmouth, pleaded guilty to one count of dishonestly failing to notify change of circumstances affecting entitlement to social security benefit.

The fraudster splashed her extra cash on luxury items and lavish clothes, the Department for Work and Pensions revealed.

Jeffrey received her inheritance around a year after the mother-of-five began to pocket taxpayer-funded support in 2020.

And, when she was no longer entitled to the benefits, she accepted the "substantial amount" of cash and paid off her debts.

She even started up a business with the extra support from the Government, Portsmouth Magistrates' Court was told, which later failed.

Prosecutor Noel Watkins said: "There is a Universal Credit payment to her for a declaration she made in 2020. But she had a significant change to her circumstances, in inheritance from her late step-mother.

"From 2022 she received an overpayment of £33,000 – it’s a substantial amount to take from the public purse. All of that money has gone now."

But the defending lawyer insisted that she pleaded guilty at the earlier opportunity and "accepts responsibility".

Lewis Foster said: "She was appointed as executor for her stepmother, and was responsible for the funeral arrangements, while also keeping employment and looking after her five children.

"All of the money inherited was used to clear existing debts and establish a business. That business failed, and she finds herself back in the throes of debt."

Jeffrey received a six-month prison term suspended for twelve months, along with 15 rehabilitation days, a £154 surcharge and £85 in costs.

While he handed the 37-year-old her sentence, Judge David Robinson said: "Benefits are reserved for those who are entitled to them – initially, you were one of those people.

"You enriched yourself, and your behaviour undermines the faith that the public has in the benefits system.

"I make no application for compensation, but the authorities will recoup from your existing benefits payments."

After the woman was sentenced, junior DWP minister, Andrew Western, issued a threatening warning.

"The message is clear – don’t think you can steal from hard-working taxpayers," he said.

"Whatever your reasons for committing benefit fraud, know that our investigators are wise to every trick in the book and we will find you. And if you know somebody is fleecing the system, report it."

Currently, around 8.4 million people claim Universal Credit across the UK, with around half of the number of claimants being out of work entirely.