Successful prosecution for council tax fraud
By Sarah Wood | 13th January 2025
A man has been prosecuted for fraudulently claiming council tax reduction, housing benefit and pension credit.
Larry Gough, of Lambert Terrace, Shurdington, fraudulently claimed over £2,200 in council tax reduction and £8,285.61 housing benefit from Tewkesbury Borough Council, and £11,726.33 in pension credit from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

At a hearing at Cheltenham Magistrates Court on December 3, Mr Gough pleaded guilty to one charge under the Council Tax Reduction Scheme (Detection of Fraud and Enforcement) (England) Regulations 2013 of making a false representation to obtain council tax reduction.
He failed to notify the council or the DWP that he was in employment, as both a taxi driver and delivery driver. His failure to declare this resulted in an incorrect reduction of his council tax liability totalling £2,212.37 for the period from September 14, 2020 to August 23, 2023.
Mr Gough also pleaded guilty to offences of dishonestly making a false representation in order to obtain a benefit contrary to s.111A(1)(a) Social Security Administration Act 1992 in respect of claims for pension credit and housing benefit. He fraudulently claimed pension credit totalling £11,726.33 and housing benefit totalling £8,285.61.
Mr Gough was sentenced on January 8 at Gloucester Crown Court to a 12-month community order to do 80 hours' unpaid work for all offences. In addition, he was ordered to pay £95 surcharge.
The investigation was carried out by officers from the Counter Fraud and Enforcement Unit of Tewkesbury Borough Council, working with colleagues from the DWP, after the council received reports about Mr Gough's circumstances. The prosecution was brought by the Crown Prosecution Service on behalf of the DWP in connection with claims for pension credit and housing benefit.
Cllr Stewart Dove, Tewkesbury Borough Council's lead member for finance and asset management, said: "Tewkesbury Borough Council is committed to ensuring that public funds are used appropriately and that those who attempt to defraud the system are held accountable.
"This successful prosecution demonstrates our dedication to protecting the integrity of our welfare system and supporting those who genuinely need assistance.
"We encourage residents to report any suspicions of fraud to help us maintain fairness and justice in our community."
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