Benefits fraudster admits stealing £100,000 in eight-year fraud

Jewers entered guilty pleas to three fraud charges at Newcastle Magistrates' Court.

The court was told that the mum, who resides on Chapel House Road in Chapel House, had failed to inform the relevant authorities about her living arrangements, which meant she was not eligible for the majority of the payments she received.

Her deception spanned from 2016 to 2024, during which time she claimed Employment Support Allowance, Universal Credit and Housing Benefit whilst maintaining a common household with her partner.

The bulk of the fraudulent claims consisted of £64,000 obtained through Employment Support Allowance over a seven-year period running from 2016 to 2023.

GB News understands this represented the longest-running element of the fraud scheme.

Following this, Jewers secured an additional £29,000 through Universal Credit claims during a shorter timeframe between 2023 and 2024.

During the same period, she also obtained £11,500 in Housing Benefit payments to which she was not entitled.

The total sum fraudulently claimed across all three benefit types exceeded £104,000.

During the court hearing, prosecutor Claire Armstrong outlined the nature of the deception to the magistrates.

"The defendant failed to disclose information that she was living with her partner and maintaining a common household," she told the court.

Ms Armstrong went on to argue the magnitude of the offending placed it beyond the magistrates' court's sentencing powers.

"The Crown would say that this is too serious to be sentenced in this court and should be sent to the Crown Court for sentence," she said.

She indicated imprisonment was the likely outcome, saying: "The starting point is three years in custody."

Defence solicitor Jack Lovell conceded that the case's seriousness meant it required a higher court to impose sentence.

"Even with full credit for a guilty plea, I would have difficulty persuading you to sentence in these courts," he acknowledged.

District Judge Kate Meek agreed the magistrates' court lacked sufficient sentencing authority for such a substantial fraud.

She acknowledged that Jewers had entered her guilty pleas at the earliest opportunity and would receive appropriate credit when sentenced.

The judge committed the matter to Newcastle Crown Court, where Jewers will appear for sentencing on January 14.

The Probation Service has been instructed to compile a pre-sentence report ahead of that hearing.

Judge Meek issued stern warnings about the consequences of non-attendance.

She cautioned that failure to appear could result in an arrest warrant being issued and additional absconding charges being brought against her, and that proceedings could continue even without her presence.

Jewers was granted conditional bail pending the crown court appearance.

The conditions require her to maintain her current address for correspondence purposes and to cooperate fully with the Probation Service during the pre-sentence assessment period.

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