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Primary school worker's benefit fraud
9:07pm Sunday 24th February 2008
Comments (25)A PRIMARY school worker has pleaded guilty to a £47,000 benefit fraud.
Karen Riley, 41, claimed the money over six years after failing to disclose that her partner had moved back in.
Burnley Crown Court heard Riley, of Sansbury Crescent, Nelson, lied her way to income support, housing benefit and council tax benefits worth £47,029.
Her claim for handouts had been legitimate at the start.
She was now working part-time at St Mary's Church of England primary school, Newchurch in Pendle, in a role which was not disclosed to the court.
The defendant, who had a previous conviction for stealing from her boss, was told by a judge she had taken money which should have gone to those more in need and who had lawful claims and she was developing a pattern of dishonesty and abuse of trust.
Judge Beverley Lunt, who noted that Riley helped children with special needs, said: It's like Jekyll and Hyde. You should go to prison, there is no doubt about it. But so much would be destroyed if you were sent to prison. I think I can be merciful today."
The defendant, admitted three offences of failing to promptly notify a change in circumstances and asked for offences to be considered. She was given 52 weeks in custody, suspended for two years, with 100 hours unpaid work and must pay £500 costs.
The court was told Riley was overpaid £27,217 in income support, £15, 121 in housing benefit and £4,691 in council tax benefit, between 2000 and 2006.
She was now repaying the cash at £150 a month.
Philip Holden, defending, handed the judge a number of references from the school where Riley now worked.
Mr Holden said : "The defendant was not living a lavish lifestyle. She has tried her best in difficult circumstances bringing up her children.
"The school has had a governers' meting and should she retain her liberty today, they will continue with her employment."
Your Say YourThis Is Lancashire
Pendle Bill, Pendle says...
8:44pm Sun 24 Feb 08
Pohaku, Lancs says...
9:07pm Sun 24 Feb 08
I haven't heard of a single one of the pigs being arrested yet, never mind charged, convicted or sentenced - they are simply told off a bit, and maybe are allowed to resign. Now THAT'S mercy!
Honeybee, ...... says...
7:19am Mon 25 Feb 08
Pendle Bill wrote:If I was dumb enough to commit a crime I'd want a harsh judge.
Question: Would Honeybee wish to meet a merciful judge or a harsh one if s/he were before a court? Mercy is not always a bad thing, is it?
Nelsoner, NELSON says...
8:23am Mon 25 Feb 08
Addman, BB says...
11:14am Mon 25 Feb 08
Alice Nutter, Pendle Hill says...
11:55am Mon 25 Feb 08
Nelsoner wrote:I AM HERE! Unlike some people I have a life and do not spend all my time glued to the computer! I have just seen this article, and yes, of course I condem this stupid woman, she should be in jail! Course she has got off lightly, she is even able to keep her job! What is the world coming to???
If the accused was asian we would have the wolves out posting 10 posts each saying deport her even if she was British born & bred..come on alice nutter/belinda/wish i wasnt here & all the rest of the gang..post your comments!
Angry, Darwen says...
12:44pm Mon 25 Feb 08
Others get by, bringing their children up properly without stealing, lock her up!
belinda, nelson says...
4:53pm Mon 25 Feb 08
nelsoner, Nelson says...
5:09pm Mon 25 Feb 08
MIKEOXLONG, says...
5:50pm Mon 25 Feb 08
nelsoner wrote:Nelsoner, I didn't know that Burger King did 9am-5pm desk jobs!!
Belinda I was on here at 8.23am as I was at my desk at work...My hours are 9am-5pm but as a hard working young person I come in for 8am & leave at 5.30pm daily in order to progress my career..yes some asians do have them..I was actually reading the news whilst making my brew & saw this and it made me think of all you bigots who put up the most ignorant of posts...get out a bit more, you really need to.
And I dont really think coming into work half an hour early to make a brew and use the internet will progress your career that far my friend
dudeAZN, lancashire says...
6:08pm Mon 25 Feb 08
MIKEOXLONG, says...
6:46pm Mon 25 Feb 08
zuaib, nelson says...
9:38pm Mon 25 Feb 08
And yes im asian,if you cant take the p... out of your self who can you.I work although i know a lot that dont.
nelsoner, nelson says...
8:38am Tue 26 Feb 08
MIKEOXLONG, says...
4:27pm Tue 26 Feb 08
nelsoner wrote:Now Nelsoner my angry little friend, who said anything about the appropriation of your nice shiney vehicle being as a result of using as you put it SCAM or DRUG money?
Actually mike i graduated in law many years ago & work as a very successful lawyer with a nice car that aint been paid with scam or drug money as your sort seem to think with any young asian who drives a nice motor or wears nice clothes...now get a life and stop complaining about others all the time. Over & out.
Further more who during all the previous comments mentioned anything about stereo typing those who drive nice cars and wear nice clothes? who indeed mentioned any of that other than you? It would seem to me little man that you do not have a chip on your shoulder but a large bag of potatoes. It is you that are propelling the myth about young asian men with comments like that and how do you know what 'MY SORT'are? By that I assume you mean white English people?
You may not realise it but you are actually tainted with racism.
You cannot fail to agree with me when I say that young Asian men are often wrongly given bad press due to the vehicles they drive and, and I want to make this absolutely clear, the MYTH that they are all associated with drug dealing. The more broad minded amongst are intelligent enough to realise that more often than not this is not the case, but you my friend do not do either yourself or your community any favours with comments like you have made. You need to stop thinking that society is against you because of your appearance and material possessions then maybe just maybe that large quantity of paotatoes will fall from your shoulder. OVER&OUT
Just wondering, 075-851 says...
10:00pm Tue 26 Feb 08
Are all Asians from the same community?
Put another way:
Are all White Europeans English?
Do they all eat snails and frogs?
Are all White Europeans Protestants?
Do all European Jews eat Pork?
Is Frank from Gt Harwood around...?
MIKEOXLONG, says...
3:40am Wed 27 Feb 08
Just wondering wrote:If you would like to finish quoting me you would see that it says DO NOT DO YOURSELF OR YOUR COMMUNITY ANY FAVOURS WITH COMMENTS LIKE THAT. I'm not particulary bothered which community he is from, but he is clearly Asian and he will more than likely be part of an asian community be it Pakistani, bangladeshi or otherwise! I know this as I know that Nelson sports quite a large Asian population from a number of different communities. If you wish to read my post again you will see that I am not HAVING A GO, I am simply highlighting some ill thought comments from a young Asian male. You have obviously missed the point and have for some reason gone off at a tangent.
but you my friend do not do either yourself or your community any favours Are all Asians from the same community? Put another way: Are all White Europeans English? Do they all eat snails and frogs? Are all White Europeans Protestants? Do all European Jews eat Pork? Is Frank from Gt Harwood around...?
And yes I saw Frank the other day he asked me to ask you if you have finished with that Gimp outfit you borrowed off him?
Nelsoner, Nelson says...
8:36am Wed 27 Feb 08
MIKEOXLONG, says...
4:44pm Wed 27 Feb 08
People like you WANT to be treated differently you WANT to create the illusion that you are being persecuted, this will then give you the platform to start spouting off about how badly society is treating you because of who you are and what you have. There are far too many people like this around that want to be on an unnecessary crusade and think that others are out to get them. My point is highlighted when you talk about 'HAVING MORE WHITE FRIENDS THAN ME'. When was that issue ever brought into this conversation? when was that ever the issue? Who cares if your friends or mine for that matter are white, asian, black, chinese, green or purple? What does it matter?
believe it or not, I am not seeking to fall out with you over this issue as from what I can gather you seem to be an articulate young man who can present your argument rather well. I just feel that your way of thinking is slightly clouded thats all. Just to make it absolutely clear I am in no way shape or form racist!! I think we should be better off leaving it there my friend.
alex, nelson says...
6:41pm Wed 27 Feb 08
Burnley Taxpayer, Burnley says...
11:13am Thu 28 Feb 08
phil mackantosh, zimbabue says...
12:00pm Fri 7 Mar 08
phil mcrackin, your house says...
1:38pm Fri 7 Mar 08
quote
pi55ed off, says...
6:59pm Wed 19 Mar 08
Honeybee wrote:This woman has been a disgrace to all people that are struggling for years. If the judge actually knew this woman she wouldn't say she was like Jekyll & Hyde, she would know that she is just Hyde. She knew exactly what she was doing at the benefits agency had been informed loads of times previously.
Judge Beverley Lunt, who noted that Riley helped children with special needs, said: It\\\'s like Jekyll and Hyde. You should go to prison, there is no doubt about it. But so much would be destroyed if you were sent to prison. I think I can be merciful today.\\\"Isn\\\'t She always merciful?
I don't understand why she is basically getting let off when other people, very recently, have been sent to prison for stealing less money than £47,000. In fact a recent one was sent to jail for stealing £22,000. Mrs Riley has been stealing from the state for years and laughing about it. Why is she working in a school?!?! Because the school obviously aren't bothered about people that have employees that steal from them. At the end of the day, anyone that does benefit fraud is stealing from US, the tax payers of the UK. She should not have only been sent to jail but she should have had her assets stripped, this includes taking the big 4x4 sat outside her house as well as the houseful of gadgets that she has. The judge should consider a new role, maybe social worker as she obviously doesn't know how to judge people properly.
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Honeybee, .... says...
8:18pm Sun 24 Feb 08
Isn't She always merciful?