A BENEFIT cheat who was swindled more than £20,000 of benefits from Cotswold District Council has been sentenced to eight months in prison.

Former Mickleton resident Caroline Foxley, 59, concealed savings of more than £300,000 while claiming housing and council tax benefits from Cotswold District Council was yesterday sentenced to eight months in prison.  

Cotswold District Council leader Cllr Lynden Stowe said: “Caroline Foxley was clearly in need of financial assistance prior to her house sale but she became greedy and thought that she could cheat the system by concealing the proceeds.  

“I am very grateful to the benefits fraud team at CDC for the part they have played in bringing Caroline Foxley to justice.  The work they do is largely unheralded but they help to safeguard our public finances and ensure that benefits are awarded to those with legitimate needs.”

Foxley sold her home in Chipping Campden for more than £600,000 in 2007, receiving £300,000 as her share of the sale proceeds.

She transferred £200,000 to a Swiss bank account, and used part of this money to pay private school fees for her children without declaring the proceeds from the house sale and while collecting jobseekers allowance and other benefits from the council.

A jury at Gloucester Crown Court unanimously found her guilty of making false representations in September 2007, September 2008 and March 2009 and found her guilty of failing to notify the authorities of a change of circumstances in May 2007.

She was bailed pending sentencing but was remanded in custody after trying to transfer money from the Swiss bank account to a Russian-based account held by her son.

If you suspect someone of being a benefit fraudster you can tip off Cotswold District Council by calling 01285 623762 or visit http://www.cotswold.gov.uk/residents/council-tax/benefits/report-benefit-fraud/