Universal Credit fraudster wrongly claimed money from DWP to pay for hotel stays

The 36-year-old dishonestly failed to notify the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) about a change of circumstances in relation to his Universal Credit claim.

Court reports stated that Moore's children were no longer in his custody between March 28 and November 27, 2022.

The change in circumstances affected his eligibility for Universal Credit.

He pleaded guilty to the charge contrary to section 111A(1A) and (3) of the Social Security Administration Act 1992 at Peterlee Magistrates' Court.

The court heard he used to money on hotel stays.

As the offence was deemed so serious, he was handed an eight-week jail sentence, which was suspended for 18 months.

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Moore was also ordered to complete 300 hours of supervised unpaid work over the next year.

In addition, he was required to pay a surcharge of £154 to fund victim services and £85 in costs to the Crown Prosecution Service.

It comes after a couple - who pretended to have 18 children in a £300,000 tax credit fraud - were ordered to pay just £2 back.

HMRC worker Tracy Ashbridge applied for handouts for children that did not exist.

The court heard she also lied about her family having severe disabilities.

She tried to claim a total of £434,128 and admitted six charges of fraud.

The 44-year-old - who was jailed last September - made £305,952 through her crimes but after an investigation revealed she had no assets she was ordered to pay back just £1.