🌟 Folkestone Woman’s £20k Premium Bonds Win and Benefits Scandal 🌟
Diana Lucas, a Folkestone resident, found herself at the centre of a benefits scandal despite her £20,000 windfall from Premium Bonds. Having also sold her house and lived abroad for a year, Diana returned to the UK and applied for Universal Credit and a council tax reduction, netting over £23,000 between 2021 and 2024.
However, things took a turn when an anonymous tip-off prompted an investigation into her finances. It was revealed that Diana had more than the allowable savings threshold for claiming benefits and failed to declare her assets. This led to her being brought before the magistrates.
Diana admitted to making false statements to secure benefit payments and a council tax discount. Despite this, she avoided jail, receiving a suspended 30-week sentence for her dishonest claims. The court learned she had already paid back the council tax but still owed a significant amount in Universal Credit repayments.
Her defence highlighted her remorse, health issues, and intention to have earmarked her winnings for family support. The court recognised her actions as out of character and heard that she’s unlikely to reoffend. Consequently, the magistrates opted for a lenient approach with a suspended sentence and ordered her to cover court costs and a victim surcharge.
A cautionary tale of how quickly fortunes can turn when not playing by the rules! 💷💔