AN Urmston woman was convicted for dishonestly claiming council tax benefit.


Michelle Britner, 46, of Cedar Drive, pleaded guilty to falsely claiming benefits she was not entitled to at Trafford Magistrates’ Court on December 20.


Mrs Britner claimed she was an employee of a company when she was in fact the company director, with much higher earnings than she had originally included in her claim.


As a result she had been overpaid benefit between June 2010 and August 2013, amounting to £2,685.


She was sentenced to a 12 month conditional discharge, required to pay £715 towards prosecution costs and ordered to pay a £15 victim surcharge.


Mrs Britner has paid back all of the benefits she wrongfully claimed from Trafford Council.


The offence was discovered by Council counter fraud officers who carried out a routine check on her claim.


It highlighted the fact that the company she claimed to work for had the same office address as her.


It also showed that Mrs Britner and her husband were receiving more income than she had previously declared to the council.


The subsequent investigation then identified that she had always been a director of the company and had received a yearly dividend along with her husband. None of this was declared to the council.


Director of finance, Ian Duncan, said: “Yet again Trafford Council has shown that benefit fraud will not be tolerated. We will work closely with our partners to do all we can to bring the perpetrators to justice.”


If you suspect anyone of benefit fraud contact Trafford Council on 0161 912 2852 or via Freephone number 0800 328 6340.