Couple that used benefits to fund jet-set lifestyle are sentenced

Sharna Gardiner, 39 of Archer Avenue, Southend on Sea, pleaded guilty to seven counts of fraud and Darren Rudd, 49 also of Archer Ave pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud at Basildon Crown Court on 13th April 2016.

Miss Gardiner received a 12 month prison sentence, suspended for 2 years and ordered to compete 150 hours of Community Service. Mr Rudd received a 6 months prison sentence - suspended for 2 years and ordered to attend a Drug Rehabilitation Course.

In total Miss Gardiner received £4,954.54 in benefits from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), £16,717.14 in housing benefit and £486.98 in council tax benefit that she was not entitled to.

Mr Rudd, who failed to declare his income and correct circumstances, received £5,454.97 of jobseekers allowance and employment and support allowance to which he was not entitled.

Miss Gardiner lied about living as a single person and needing help to pay her rent, declaring that her only form of income was obtained from income support and jobseeker’s allowance. She was in fact living with Mr Rudd at the Archer Avenue property, after telling the council in February 2014 that he was her landlord.

A joint investigation with the DWP also showed that she received £97,956.65 between October 2012 and March 2014 and had started to pay the monthly mortgage for Archer Avenue into an account held in the name of Anne Rudd. Mr Rudd was also claiming jobseeker’s allowance and these benefit payments were deposited into Sharna Gardiner’s bank account. His bank account also showed deposits between November 2007 until the account was closed in August 2011 and enquiries showed that he had assumed responsibility for the mortgage payments for Archer Avenue and that he was also liable for the utility bills.

Sally Holland, the Council’s Director for Corporate Services, says: “This was a very complex case. Along with the false claims about living on her own and needing support to pay her rent, it was also found that the couple were taking foreign holidays and skiing trips, as well as frequently visiting pubs, restaurants and takeaways. This evidence highlighted that they could not be solely reliant on benefits as was claimed. “Whilst we are totally committed to paying benefits to those that need them, in this case, this was a flagrant abuse of the system and they will both have to repay all the benefit money that they stole in full.”