THREE people who claimed more than £16,000 in benefit fraud were sentenced at Cwmbran Magistrates Court on Monday 13th April.

Alan Hartshorn of Goldwire Lane, Monmouth, Sarah Mills of Bishops Close, Bulwark and Stella Davies of Cottage Nurseries, Nant-y-derry failed to notify Monmouthshire County Council (MCC) of changes to their circumstances, leading to large sums being fraudulently obtained by the defendants.

Hartshorn failed to send back a periodic form containing details of his benefits. When officers investigated, it was found that both Hartshorn and his wife's income had increased since the claim had begun, leading to £4,589.59 wrongly awarded in housing benefits.

He pleaded guilty and has been sentenced to a conditional discharge for 12 months and ordered to pay £250 costs and a £15 victim surcharge.

Mills didn't notify MCC of a new partner living at her address, claiming in an interview with MCC that her partner used the property for postal purposes only.

Mills racked up £8,106.21 in housing benefits, £253 in council tax benefits and £992 under the Welsh council tax reduction scheme.

She pleaded guilty and has been remanded on unconditional bail until Thursday 7th May when she will appear at Newport Magistrates Court because a pre-sentence report is being prepared.

Davies fraudulently obtained £3,612.93 in housing benefit fraud and £624.16 in council tax fraud and was sentenced to a conditional discharge for 24 months and ordered to pay £250 costs and £15 victim surcharge.