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Anorak News | Sweet 16: Childless Couple Claim £125,000 In Imginary Children Scam

Sweet 16: Childless Couple Claim £125,000 In Imginary Children Scam

by | 8th, June 2007

royal-family.jpgTHERE’S only one thing that makes the Mail fume more than a couple of ‘scroungers’ who have 16 children and claim massive benefits. And that’s a couple of ‘scroungers’ who pretend to have 16 children and claim massive benefits.

Say hello to ‘gambling addict’ David Wilshaw, 57, and his ‘alcoholic’ partner Nancy Stevenson, 58.

The Mail reports that the troubled twosome started the con when they legally applied for tax credits for two of Stevenson’s genuine children and nobody asked to see any form of identification.

The devious duo then proceeded to conjure up children Brian, Sandra, Gareth, Jason along with a whole coach load of fictitious siblings. Indeed, some of the names they chose were actually quite lovely – Miranda, Edith and Amber all sound like nice, if imaginary, young people.

However, after four years of deception and £125,000 in cash, the couple were eventually arrested at their home in Weston-super-Mare with both pleading guilty to a number of charges of fraud.

The couple, who also admitted to their involvement in various other petty-criminal activities, are set to appear at Bristol Crown Court for sentencing on June 25.

In his defence, an impressively brass-necked Wilshaw bragged that he was “doing a public service” by exposing the loophole. Have we witnessed the arrival of the new Alistair Campbell?



Posted: 8th, June 2007 | In: Money Comment | TrackBack | Permalink