£75,000 Darlington benefits cheat jailed for seven-year con (From Darlington and Stockton Times)

Good - its long overdue that judges sent these fraudsters to prison.Will she have to pay this money back??
We all know for every benefit cheat who is caught there are hundreds getting away with it.I hope the new Universal Benefit and capping of amounts that can be claimed will help in the constant fight against these scroungers who are enemies of a fair equal and just society

i know it's "legal" but when will they sort out tax evaders they do much more damage to the country.

Tax evasion is a crime, yes, but this is as well. As the judge said quite rightly, many people (myslef included) find it hard to make ends meet and to keep their children fed and clothed, but we don't resort to subtrefuge to do so. Morals play a part, and difficult though it might be to say no to having the latest toys and gadgets, especially to kids, sometimes it has to be done.

We all struggle, but somehow we get by, without comitting fraud, which is what this is. And yes, it does make my blood boil when such people have got away with this for so long and taken money that isn't thiers to take, as I imagine it does with most people. In this case, if her counsel is to be believed, the money was spent on basic things, but these are things that we all have to provide and, not to put too fine a point on, get money for from the State in terms of Child Benefit and Tax Credits to do so. What did she do with that money? Was it all spent on the kids, or was it on booze, fags and a subscription to Sky? Be interesting to find out.

As the old saying goes, you 'cut your cloth according to your pattern'.

As mentuioned this is scrapping the tip of the iceberg in reality, for every 1 they catch there are hundreds doing the same thing they dont catch. Its the system that is at fault which rewards the workshy to remain on overly well paid benefits, breed like rabbits to get more money and penalises those that work and are entitled to nothing. The hard workers/taxpayers deserve far better and the millions on benefits should get the bare minimum in handouts with minimum cash and the rest in vouchers which cant be used to get alcohol or cigarettes. A life on benefits is seen as a right and easy option by generations of families who wont work, cant work, refuse to work and are never going to work. Any person convicted of benefit fraud should lose their entitlement to cliam for life, no doubt after huge cost to the taxpayer in prison she will emerge and again have taxpayers money thrown at her such is our ludicrous benefits system which rewards failure.

Denis McShane stole thousands of pounds from the taxpayer recently, by knowingly submitting fraudulent claims. A rich man such as him clearly did not need the money as much as Ms Blakeburn did.

She goes to jail, he may not be even prosecuted for his crimes, let alone be jailed.

Denis McShane was an MP until a few days ago, and claims parliamentary privilege for stealing from the taxpayer.

England. What a great country. One law for the ruling elite, but another one for the rest of us 'plebs'.

The likes of Lord Ashcroft and Gary Barlow squirrel away millions that should be paid in tax, and it's all legal. If we actually closed the tax loopholes for the very rich, you night find that we wouldn't need to make cuts to vital public services.
Whilst this woman defrauded the system, and has been rightly punished, it seems that the system is happy to let those at the top get away with a bigger fraud.

Why was she sent to jail when she is not a danger to the public and yet joy riders, dangerous drivers, those convicted of assault, actual bodily harm, burglers and even some rape/sexual assault crimes are given far less sentences such as fines, suspended sentences and conditional discharges. Don't get me wrong what she did has to be punished but paying back the money over time, fines etc would be be far more suitable. I was a victim of an assault and criminal damage to my property which cost me financially and caused me great distress and anxiety yet the culprit was given a conditional discharge even though it was his 5th offence towards me alone, god knows how many other times he had been in trouble with the police for other offences. Our justice system is a joke and I for one have absolutely now faith in it whatsoever.

She needs to pay it back, its needed for the few genuine claimants

Steve egg, who are these people who are getting overly paid on benefits, the weekly rate is £71 per week,o i forgot everyone who gets money for there children spend the money on themselves, and everyone who works spend every penny on their children that's right isn't. Spragger would you care to meet me and repeat what you said about benefit claimants to my face you sarcastic s**m.

loonyleft wrote:
Steve egg, who are these people who are getting overly paid on benefits, the weekly rate is £71 per week,o i forgot everyone who gets money for there children spend the money on themselves, and everyone who works spend every penny on their children that's right isn't. Spragger would you care to meet me and repeat what you said about benefit claimants to my face you sarcastic s**m.

Ha what a neanderthal. Threatening someone with violence because they voice an opinion. You sir, are a bafoon

loonyleft wrote:
Steve egg, who are these people who are getting overly paid on benefits, the weekly rate is £71 per week,o i forgot everyone who gets money for there children spend the money on themselves, and everyone who works spend every penny on their children that's right isn't. Spragger would you care to meet me and repeat what you said about benefit claimants to my face you sarcastic s**m.

Spragger just expressed an opinion and you threaten him with violence. Do you really expect to be taken seriously if you post comments like that on a forum? As I have mentioned in a previous post- your name and writing style tell me all I need to know about you. I for one, will certainly not respond to your comments in future unless you issue a full apology.

johnny_p wrote:

loonyleft wrote:
Steve egg, who are these people who are getting overly paid on benefits, the weekly rate is £71 per week,o i forgot everyone who gets money for there children spend the money on themselves, and everyone who works spend every penny on their children that's right isn't. Spragger would you care to meet me and repeat what you said about benefit claimants to my face you sarcastic s**m.

Spragger just expressed an opinion and you threaten him with violence. Do you really expect to be taken seriously if you post comments like that on a forum? As I have mentioned in a previous post- your name and writing style tell me all I need to know about you. I for one, will certainly not respond to your comments in future unless you issue a full apology.

I fail to see what straggler said was threatening?

This lady needs to be punished and any it all back but the sentence if far too big

Have the children been taken into care while she serves her prison sentence? If so more expense, agree with other post its, she is wrong, she should pay it back, but what good is a prison sentence when real crimanals walk away free.

loonyleft wrote:
Steve egg, who are these people who are getting overly paid on benefits, the weekly rate is £71 per week,o i forgot everyone who gets money for there children spend the money on themselves, and everyone who works spend every penny on their children that's right isn't. Spragger would you care to meet me and repeat what you said about benefit claimants to my face you sarcastic s**m.

You moron, what exactly did Spragger say to offend you in such a threatening manner - beggars belief!!

johnny_p wrote:

loonyleft wrote: Steve egg, who are these people who are getting overly paid on benefits, the weekly rate is £71 per week,o i forgot everyone who gets money for there children spend the money on themselves, and everyone who works spend every penny on their children that's right isn't. Spragger would you care to meet me and repeat what you said about benefit claimants to my face you sarcastic s**m.

Spragger just expressed an opinion and you threaten him with violence. Do you really expect to be taken seriously if you post comments like that on a forum? As I have mentioned in a previous post- your name and writing style tell me all I need to know about you. I for one, will certainly not respond to your comments in future unless you issue a full apology.

Hold on, where is the threat of violence exactly?
He asks whether Spragger would be prepared to make those comments to his face. That's a question, not a threat.

people should refrain from making sweeping sarcastic comments like Spragger,i have never hit anyone in my entire adult life,but when people try to put an entire section of society into a particular catigory without even meeting them it makes me angry,yes there are lazy people,just as well as there are lazy people who just coast through a days work, please have proof in future before you judge people in future.

loonyleft wrote:
people should refrain from making sweeping sarcastic comments like Spragger,i have never hit anyone in my entire adult life,but when people try to put an entire section of society into a particular catigory without even meeting them it makes me angry,yes there are lazy people,just as well as there are lazy people who just coast through a days work, please have proof in future before you judge people in future.

Totally agree, jailing her is not the answer that's for sure!

She needs to be educated on how she can earn more money or budget what she gets,,, the victims in this crime?? her children.

Why don't they let her partner do her jail time as no talk of him getting into trouble. We don’t know her story and it’s not easy living this day and aged. This woman looks desperate and must be going through living hell ...yes her fault but that doesn't help her and her family!

Paedophiles don’t get jailed when they are caught and have images etc ….terrible.

Oh and then they let this piece of muck go free http://www.thenorthe
rnecho.co.uk/news/10
032072.Drug_dealer_s
pared_jail___again__
_because_of_kidney_s
wap_operation/?actio
n=success

Now were is the justice in this???? Sell drugs and so what......Love the ohhh i am so thoughtful picture of him and his brother.......... disgusts me!!

Should this women be punished? You can't let someone falsely claim £75K

Should MPs falsely claiming expenses have more lenient sentence? No They are in a position of trust and that should be reflected in an even stiffer sentence

Drug pushers, drunk drivers etc again threaten peoples lives and should receive automatic sentences which reflect the damage they could do

That 75k has sure cost the tax payer an awful lot. Prison was not the correct punishment for this crime but in all fairness, what alternatives are there?

Legal costs, prison costs, social services and other bodies - it's all going to amount to a pretty big bill far in excess of the 75k and is very unlikely to act as a deterrent.

Local authorities will get to a point where they can't afford to spend the money finding, investigating and imprisoning these people - especially when the likely scenario is that they will not recover any money or anything of value to offset against that cost. This is proof (in concept) that the way benefits are paid and claimed for needs to be changed. Maybe the idea of payments made direct to the claiments creditors, 'food' cards that can't be used to buy alcohol and cigrettes and a small weekly 'pocket money' allowance is the way forward. Make sure claiments have their basic needs met as they are now but in a much more controlled way.

Is it any wonder that she was forced to do this by a Tory government thats hell bent on making the poor poorer. As long as their rich friends are ok the scum bags are happy. Shame on them. This woman did not waste the money, she fed and clothed her family. No doubt the more wealthy amongst us are commenting how wrong it is and how she should be punished, Just pray you dont end up needy as she was, you may all find yourselves in her predicament. Ive made my thoughts clear.
LET THE SILLY PEOPLE COMMENTS COMMENCE.

Sick As A Pig wrote:
Is it any wonder that she was forced to do this by a Tory government thats hell bent on making the poor poorer. As long as their rich friends are ok the scum bags are happy. Shame on them. This woman did not waste the money, she fed and clothed her family. No doubt the more wealthy amongst us are commenting how wrong it is and how she should be punished, Just pray you dont end up needy as she was, you may all find yourselves in her predicament. Ive made my thoughts clear.
LET THE SILLY PEOPLE COMMENTS COMMENCE.

Yes it must be "Da Tories" who are "hell bent on making the poor poorer".

Even though she started doing this seven years ago....... Doh!!!!!!

Grow up.

Darlogirl1 wrote:

loonyleft wrote: people should refrain from making sweeping sarcastic comments like Spragger,i have never hit anyone in my entire adult life,but when people try to put an entire section of society into a particular catigory without even meeting them it makes me angry,yes there are lazy people,just as well as there are lazy people who just coast through a days work, please have proof in future before you judge people in future.

Totally agree, jailing her is not the answer that's for sure! She needs to be educated on how she can earn more money or budget what she gets,,, the victims in this crime?? her children. Why don't they let her partner do her jail time as no talk of him getting into trouble. We don’t know her story and it’s not easy living this day and aged. This woman looks desperate and must be going through living hell ...yes her fault but that doesn't help her and her family! Paedophiles don’t get jailed when they are caught and have images etc ….terrible.

lol,,,some strange people on here !!. "HE" has committed NO offense,SHE has. £75.000 of our money she stole,of course she should be in jail,,for longer. Never gave the children a thought while frauding the system though,eh. Please DO NOT REPLY untill you enter the REAL WORLD. :-)

Sick as a Pig - Apart from the fact that you obviously can't count (ie - seven years ago it wan't this govt that was in power as has been pointed out), does the woman in the photo look emaciated or desperate to you? Does she look to be at the end of her tether with nowhere else to turn and nothing more she could do to feed herself and her children than to lie and steal?

Sorry, but no, she doesnt. This was a systematic and deliberate act to rip off the state for all that she could, and I for one would love to see just what clothes and food she really did buy. Silly comment? Since when was having morals and knowing right from wrong making silly comments? We all face hardship at some time or another, and trust me, I do know exactly what that is, but do we all decide to steal to fund ourselves? No, we get a grip and sort out our real priorities. Life is unfair, and there has always been and always be the have and the have nots, but none of that can be used as a justification for fraud.

Mr 666,

How can tell all this about her from one photograph? Whilst I agree that she should be punished, I also agree with frankyboy in that if the MPs who make the laws are not even prosecuted when they steal from the taxpayer, then how can the law retain credibility and public support?

I can't remember many Mp's going to jail for the expenses scandal, which was fraud, pure and simple. Funny how the law can be used in such biased ways against different people. I don't agree with what this woman did, but the law really does have to be consistent and it's far from that.

Another knee jerk reaction from the legal system, hmmm 75k over 7 years... roughly 10k a year extra... is that it !!!!!!! wow. not even as much as what the mp's where claming for expenses !!! I for one can see the bigger picture and love the way people are smokescreened and get annoyed about it.( mugs ).. has anyone seen what this country spends it's money on year after year ? the benefits system ( once seperated from the social security budget, which is important because social security also includes disability benefits etc ) really doesnt take up that much of the countrys money. Am i really supposed to care about 10k a year when there is so much more going on in this country that is far worse .... she is the last to be dealt with in my book...much more pressing issues to be dealt with before we get down to the likes of her... but no matter, you just be bothered with this woman while all the really important issues pass you by ( smokescreened ) not to mention all the real corruption that just goes by without anyone knowing because it is all covered up, even if we do find out about it there is nothing we can do anyway.. Oh, and lets not forget the amount of foreign people who also claim. People only have themselves to blame, you will all go out and vote next time around and play your part in the game thinking that you will make a difference with your vote... well, you won't ... ever since parliment was formed in it's current form in the 1700's
it has never worked, we need to think of a better system to run the country.

Sorry- I didn't realise it was okay to steal £75,000, especially justifiable because it's only "about £10,00 a year". It must be okay because everyone else is doing it, including politicians. After all, there must be a bottomless pit of money that we are all entitled to get our hands on.

Brilliant! I learn something new every day.....

the amount of things politicians claim for there must be .

Why is is that whenever there is a story like this the first reaction from some people is to then say 'Ah, but what about this politician or that celebrity etc, they got away with this and that and the other'? The one does not excuse or justify the other. This woman stole, over a period of seven years, 75,000 pounds of your money, and then makes the excuse that 'well, I needed it for the kids'. What about the rest of us - you know, all of us who have to also cope? Does that mean that, to get my kids clothes etc, I can go and rob the old lady down the road who might have worked all her life for what she now has, or steal into a person's home and take their possessions? No, of course it doesn't, and we all know it.

So stop making excuses for the woman and accept that what she did was wrong, she got caught fair and square and is now paying the price for it, just as she should be!

Longbowman666 wrote:
Why is is that whenever there is a story like this the first reaction from some people is to then say 'Ah, but what about this politician or that celebrity etc, they got away with this and that and the other'? The one does not excuse or justify the other. This woman stole, over a period of seven years, 75,000 pounds of your money, and then makes the excuse that 'well, I needed it for the kids'. What about the rest of us - you know, all of us who have to also cope? Does that mean that, to get my kids clothes etc, I can go and rob the old lady down the road who might have worked all her life for what she now has, or steal into a person's home and take their possessions? No, of course it doesn't, and we all know it.

So stop making excuses for the woman and accept that what she did was wrong, she got caught fair and square and is now paying the price for it, just as she should be!

It's called balance. All law cases are tested against a comparison when brought to court. The law and sentence handed out in this case are biased and inconsistent because a certain group in society have, until very recently, got away with fraud on a mass scale....
What's good for the MP's should be good for all, even this sorry excuse of a human being.

Longbowman666 wrote:
Tax evasion is a crime, yes, but this is as well. As the judge said quite rightly, many people (myslef included) find it hard to make ends meet and to keep their children fed and clothed, but we don't resort to subtrefuge to do so. Morals play a part, and difficult though it might be to say no to having the latest toys and gadgets, especially to kids, sometimes it has to be done.

We all struggle, but somehow we get by, without comitting fraud, which is what this is. And yes, it does make my blood boil when such people have got away with this for so long and taken money that isn't thiers to take, as I imagine it does with most people. In this case, if her counsel is to be believed, the money was spent on basic things, but these are things that we all have to provide and, not to put too fine a point on, get money for from the State in terms of Child Benefit and Tax Credits to do so. What did she do with that money? Was it all spent on the kids, or was it on booze, fags and a subscription to Sky? Be interesting to find out.

As the old saying goes, you 'cut your cloth according to your pattern'.

True-this woman used to come and get her hair dyd at the hairdressers where I work every week and used to think nothing of spending £80-I didn't realise it wasn't her money.And she had a nice new car.

mark.wilkinson wrote:

Longbowman666 wrote:
Why is is that whenever there is a story like this the first reaction from some people is to then say 'Ah, but what about this politician or that celebrity etc, they got away with this and that and the other'? The one does not excuse or justify the other. This woman stole, over a period of seven years, 75,000 pounds of your money, and then makes the excuse that 'well, I needed it for the kids'. What about the rest of us - you know, all of us who have to also cope? Does that mean that, to get my kids clothes etc, I can go and rob the old lady down the road who might have worked all her life for what she now has, or steal into a person's home and take their possessions? No, of course it doesn't, and we all know it.

So stop making excuses for the woman and accept that what she did was wrong, she got caught fair and square and is now paying the price for it, just as she should be!

It's called balance. All law cases are tested against a comparison when brought to court. The law and sentence handed out in this case are biased and inconsistent because a certain group in society have, until very recently, got away with fraud on a mass scale....
What's good for the MP's should be good for all, even this sorry excuse of a human being.

And I didn't realise this either: "what's good for MP's should be good for all". So you basically agree that if MPs do it, then it's okay for us ordinary folk to do the same?

And what about the "Labour 25"- the MP's and Councillors convicted of abusing children. Please don't tell me that this gives us the green light too?

johnny_p wrote:

mark.wilkinson wrote:

Longbowman666 wrote:
Why is is that whenever there is a story like this the first reaction from some people is to then say 'Ah, but what about this politician or that celebrity etc, they got away with this and that and the other'? The one does not excuse or justify the other. This woman stole, over a period of seven years, 75,000 pounds of your money, and then makes the excuse that 'well, I needed it for the kids'. What about the rest of us - you know, all of us who have to also cope? Does that mean that, to get my kids clothes etc, I can go and rob the old lady down the road who might have worked all her life for what she now has, or steal into a person's home and take their possessions? No, of course it doesn't, and we all know it.

So stop making excuses for the woman and accept that what she did was wrong, she got caught fair and square and is now paying the price for it, just as she should be!

It's called balance. All law cases are tested against a comparison when brought to court. The law and sentence handed out in this case are biased and inconsistent because a certain group in society have, until very recently, got away with fraud on a mass scale....
What's good for the MP's should be good for all, even this sorry excuse of a human being.

And I didn't realise this either: "what's good for MP's should be good for all". So you basically agree that if MPs do it, then it's okay for us ordinary folk to do the same?

And what about the "Labour 25"- the MP's and Councillors convicted of abusing children. Please don't tell me that this gives us the green light too?

Don't be so bloody pathetic

mark.wilkinson wrote:

johnny_p wrote:

mark.wilkinson wrote:

Longbowman666 wrote:
Why is is that whenever there is a story like this the first reaction from some people is to then say 'Ah, but what about this politician or that celebrity etc, they got away with this and that and the other'? The one does not excuse or justify the other. This woman stole, over a period of seven years, 75,000 pounds of your money, and then makes the excuse that 'well, I needed it for the kids'. What about the rest of us - you know, all of us who have to also cope? Does that mean that, to get my kids clothes etc, I can go and rob the old lady down the road who might have worked all her life for what she now has, or steal into a person's home and take their possessions? No, of course it doesn't, and we all know it.

So stop making excuses for the woman and accept that what she did was wrong, she got caught fair and square and is now paying the price for it, just as she should be!

It's called balance. All law cases are tested against a comparison when brought to court. The law and sentence handed out in this case are biased and inconsistent because a certain group in society have, until very recently, got away with fraud on a mass scale....
What's good for the MP's should be good for all, even this sorry excuse of a human being.

And I didn't realise this either: "what's good for MP's should be good for all". So you basically agree that if MPs do it, then it's okay for us ordinary folk to do the same?

And what about the "Labour 25"- the MP's and Councillors convicted of abusing children. Please don't tell me that this gives us the green light too?

Don't be so bloody pathetic

But you're saying it's okay to behave as MP's do- even if they do wrong? We can follow their lead. Can you clarify?

Actually I thought your comment was "pathetic".

johnny_p wrote:

mark.wilkinson wrote:

johnny_p wrote:

mark.wilkinson wrote:

Longbowman666 wrote:
Why is is that whenever there is a story like this the first reaction from some people is to then say 'Ah, but what about this politician or that celebrity etc, they got away with this and that and the other'? The one does not excuse or justify the other. This woman stole, over a period of seven years, 75,000 pounds of your money, and then makes the excuse that 'well, I needed it for the kids'. What about the rest of us - you know, all of us who have to also cope? Does that mean that, to get my kids clothes etc, I can go and rob the old lady down the road who might have worked all her life for what she now has, or steal into a person's home and take their possessions? No, of course it doesn't, and we all know it.

So stop making excuses for the woman and accept that what she did was wrong, she got caught fair and square and is now paying the price for it, just as she should be!

It's called balance. All law cases are tested against a comparison when brought to court. The law and sentence handed out in this case are biased and inconsistent because a certain group in society have, until very recently, got away with fraud on a mass scale....
What's good for the MP's should be good for all, even this sorry excuse of a human being.

And I didn't realise this either: "what's good for MP's should be good for all". So you basically agree that if MPs do it, then it's okay for us ordinary folk to do the same?

And what about the "Labour 25"- the MP's and Councillors convicted of abusing children. Please don't tell me that this gives us the green light too?

Don't be so bloody pathetic

But you're saying it's okay to behave as MP's do- even if they do wrong? We can follow their lead. Can you clarify?

Actually I thought your comment was "pathetic".

Oh be quiet will you.

I would also say that you have to bear in mind another factor - that of her defence, who's job it is to try and either to get their client acquited, or, if as in this case, found guilty, to try to gain as lighter sentence for them as possible. This can be seen in the defence arguments of the money not being used to fund an extravagant lifestyle, that she would struggle in jail and that her son etc would suffer, and that she had already endured an ordeal in the community etc etc...

The idea being of course to try and convince the court / judge that your client doesn't really deserve a hard sentence...which will sometimes work, sometimes not. But if your defence didn't do this he would be failing in his duty to you as their client - doesn't mean that its all absolute 100% truth, now does it?

Just to point out, she has stolen more per year than some people get paid in the same time. Prison is the best place for her. I'm sure her boyfriend can look after the kids while shes away.

I don't think Mark, and others including me, are defending her or saying she should not have been punished.
It's just that there seems to be one rule for ordinary people and another for those in power.
I seem to remember Denis McShane was a minister. If this woman got over two years, then he should get at least five, because of his position in society.
No-one is saying that because an MP stole and got away with it then we can too. No. It's a criticism of the double standards that are evident here, particularly as McShane appears to be evading even being prosecuted - and yet his crimes were much worse.

She should have had to work it off at the correct minimum wage and there would be no need to lock her up away from her children, this would save the tax payer a fortune and her children wouldn't suffer. What people need to realise is there has always been one rule for one and one for another, it's just the way it is, right back from the days of old. The diffence is that the MPS doing it don't need the money and are just plain greedy.

I see another MP - Margaret Moran - has just escaped scot-free for stealing over £50k from the taxpayer. Apparently, she's 'mentally unfit' to stand trial, so not a single day in jail for her! Again, if Blakeburn got over two years, then Moran should have got five.
Nice to know we're all equal before the law, in this great country of England!

frankyboy wrote:
I see another MP - Margaret Moran - has just escaped scot-free for stealing over £50k from the taxpayer. Apparently, she's 'mentally unfit' to stand trial, so not a single day in jail for her! Again, if Blakeburn got over two years, then Moran should have got five.
Nice to know we're all equal before the law, in this great country of England!

My point exactly. A cracking example of our fair justice system at work again.

Makes you feel sick

frankyboy wrote:
I see another MP - Margaret Moran - has just escaped scot-free for stealing over £50k from the taxpayer. Apparently, she's 'mentally unfit' to stand trial, so not a single day in jail for her! Again, if Blakeburn got over two years, then Moran should have got five.
Nice to know we're all equal before the law, in this great country of England!

She can't be that mentally unfit! she snaggled £50k form us right under our noses. We need a revolution, get the guilitine blade sharpened people.HAHA