Child Support Agency worker jailed for £7k fraud on parents
A WORKER at the Child Support Agency has been jailed for diverting nearly £7,000 due to parents into her own bank account.
Clair Jones, aged 38, was led away from court in tears after she was imprisoned for 12 weeks.
-
LED AWAY IN TEARS: Clair Jones
Plymouth magistrates heard she was struggling to pay debts and had been threatened by loan sharks.
But presiding magistrate Wendy Casper told her: "Only custody is justified because these offences were committed while you were in a position of trust.
SUMMER IS HERE
Out with the old, in with the new
Why not let us take out that old dated fireplace & fire & replace them.
Fires are now upto 100% efficient saving on fuel costs.
Terms: voucher can not be used with anyother offer on at the time
Contact: 01395 200611
Valid until: Sunday, June 30 2013
"They were committed over a long period of time and with a fair degree of sophistication.
"They only stopped when you were caught."
She was jailed for 12 weeks but her solicitor Alan Harris said an appeal against sentence to Plymouth Crown Court would be launched.
Jones, of Union Street, Stonehouse, admitted three counts of fraud by abuse of position in January 2009, July 2009 and August 2011.
Owen Lawton, prosecuting for the Department for Work and Pensions, said she was an employee of the Child Support Agency.
He said she diverted payments due to claimants into her own account and then altered the records to 'cover her tracks'.
Mr Lawton said the fraud came to light when an absentee parent due to receive a refund of nearly £400 complained that he had not had the cash.
He added the payment was traced to a bank account in Jones' name and she was instantly suspended.
Mr Lawton said in total three transfers of agency cash were made to her, adding up to £6,847.60.
Mr Harris said she had intended to repay the money she had taken.
He added she had since borrowed cash, partly from her mother, to repay the entire sum.
Mr Harris said the single parent's child benefit had ceased and she had found it difficult to meet her household bills.
He added she also had a problem with her car.
Mr Harris said she borrowed from money lenders who made threats against her. He added she had gone to the Citizens Advice Bureau for help but the threats had got 'worse and worse'.
Mr Harris said: "She knew straight away she had lost her job and any prospect of being employed anywhere where she has responsibility."
An application for bail pending appeal was turned down by a district judge.
Comments
by deadbeatdad
Thursday, May 31 2012, 6:50PM
“re "I cannot condone what she did"
No doubt others in this organisation can and do, but thank you for confirming your position, 61 fathers have taken their own lives over the intolerable pressure placed upon them by this Quango who inflate their estimated maintenance assessments by 300% by their own admission "as a sort of lever" the CSA never got to grips with real absent parents and went after "soft targets" then having secured the money intended for children this woman steals it, her sentence is too light, the CSA hide behind slick corporate advertising with slogans like "lifting children out of poverty" they vilify fathers who may be struggling whilst dividing families, this case speaks volumes for the quality of staff employed by the agency and the contempt they show for parents and children.”
by headhunter267
Tuesday, May 29 2012, 4:54PM
“While what she did is appalling, I'm not so sure she deserves a custdial sentence when the Herald is reporting on burglars, Police assaulters and ASBO breakers all getting suspended sentences or less. It's all relative. She's going to struggle to get meaningful employment again, while the other wasters I have mentioned have never had a job, and will never have a job. I'm sure the court could have come up with a more suitable punishment despite the "breach of position/trust" element which possibly tipped the balance”
by Truthsupport
Monday, May 28 2012, 1:18PM
“The 'Child Support' Agency is the greatest failing in the history of the welfare state - responsible, for nineteen years and counting, for the destruction, on a biblical scale, of the life chances of hundreds and thousands of children and their perfectly law-abiding parents. It is the greatest failing in the history of the welfare state precisely because, from 'top' to 'bottom' it is an appalling, corrupt abuse of public trust and public money: both in it's design, and its operation. No-one should be under any illusion that the activities of Ms Jones are just the tip of a very large, grubby iceberg. The thousands of civil servants and politicians responsible for this nineteen-year-long Orwellian nightmare should not sleep easily in their beds tonight. The parents of the children abused by these state-sponsored thugs have a long memory and won't rest until they are brought to book, be that through civil proceedings, or criminal proceedings.”
by blondieee92
Sunday, May 27 2012, 1:07AM
“why on earth is she appealing? does she not realise that she has done wrong and deserves to be sent to prison? jesus christ get a grip woman and face up to what you have done! we could all use some extra money, as i believe we all struggle with money day to day, food, bills, rent so on and so on, but doesn't mean we all go stealing from each other!!!”
by Anotherbloke
Sunday, May 27 2012, 12:40AM
“Oh my - not good.
Pity the CSA is even needed huh?”
by swoop4
Saturday, May 26 2012, 5:21PM
“She'll be out in 6 weeks. That's a grand per week. Not bad.”
by ashers123
Saturday, May 26 2012, 11:46AM
“your all going on about this 'petty crime' like its serious when you got nonses walking free not guilty and others nonses getting 18month sentances ... wheres the justice in that?! if you had financial problems you would do anything to provide for family. whats the saying 'life is full of chances, why not take it.' People learn from mistakes, its not as if she didnt pay it back”
by breezerrosie
Thursday, May 24 2012, 10:19PM
“Nasty comments.”
by Workitout
Thursday, May 24 2012, 9:51PM
“12 Weeks for ripping off K7 in what is supposed to be a responsible job.
They are employing LowLife.
You sould not expect that from the Government.
Hey Ho!”
by lennon66
Thursday, May 24 2012, 9:18PM
“what a joke the csa are,no wonder so many dads dont pay through this shambolic system.”