A couple from Port Talbot faced Swansea Crown Court after admitting to fraudulently obtaining Universal Credit by failing to declare their ownership of a second property worth £170,000. Over the course of four years, Brian and Frances Rowe unlawfully received more than £48,500 in benefits to which they were not entitled. The judge presiding over the case made it clear that their offence—described as “stealing from the state”—was by no means trivial.
The court was told that, in February 2019, the Rowes applied for Universal Credit and stated on their application that their savings and investments totalled less than £6,000. Based on this information, their claim was approved, and payments commenced the following month. However, it later emerged that Brian Rowe had for two decades owned another house on Vivian Park Drive, on the very same street as the couple’s primary residence.
This undeclared asset, valued at around £170,000 at the time of the benefits application, would have made the couple ineligible for Universal Credit. Further investigations revealed that the Rowes had failed to report this property, which they rented out at a rate of £500 per month. In fact, records showed that a housing benefit claim in respect of this second home had been made as early as December 2013, with Frances Rowe listed as the landlord.
Between February 2019 and August 2023, the couple received a total of £48,517 in benefits that they were not entitled to. Prosecutor Ryan Bowen described the Rowes’ welfare claim as “fraudulent from the outset” and pointed to the long-standing, deliberate non-disclosure of the rental property.
During sentencing, it was revealed that Brian Rowe, aged 63, had one prior conviction for criminal damage, while Frances Rowe, 58, had no previous convictions. Defence solicitor Huw Davies told the court that the couple had already begun to make amends, having re-mortgaged their house to begin repaying the money owed to the state.
The judge, Geraint Walters, acknowledged the financial pressures faced by the Rowes at the time of the offence, including Brian Rowe’s inability to work due to ill-health, which left the household reliant on Frances Rowe’s income alone. Nevertheless, Judge Walters emphasised the seriousness of benefit fraud, stating: “Stealing from the state is not an insignificant matter.” He also said that, while the case crossed the threshold for a custodial sentence, immediate imprisonment was not justified in this instance according to the formal sentencing guidelines.
Both defendants received six-month prison sentences, suspended for two years. The court is set to return to the matter, scheduling a separate hearing for the 24th of June to establish a timetable regarding the repayment of the funds and the possible confiscation of assets under proceeds of crime legislation.
Benefit fraud has been under increased scrutiny in recent years as government and local authorities seek to crack down on those abusing the welfare system. Cases such as this highlight the challenges faced by investigators and the significant sums that can be obtained through deliberate deception.
This incident serves as a reminder that the application and approval processes for benefits rely heavily on the honesty of claimants. Falsifying information or failing to disclose one’s true financial situation can result in criminal convictions, serious penalties, and long-term financial consequences.
Local residents expressed mixed reactions to the verdict, with some expressing sympathy for the couple’s circumstances, while others condemned the misuse of a system designed to support those truly in need. As the legal process moves forward, attention will remain focused on the outcome of the confiscation proceedings and the continued efforts to uphold integrity in public benefit programmes.