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| Councillor Lesley Hayward 'no excuse' not to repay council cash | Councillor Lesley Hayward 'no excuse' not to repay council cash |
| (3 days later) | |
| A councillor has "absolutely no excuse" not to pay £5,000 back to a council before being sentenced for benefit fraud, a judge has said. | A councillor has "absolutely no excuse" not to pay £5,000 back to a council before being sentenced for benefit fraud, a judge has said. |
| District Judge Davinder Lachhar said Lesley Hayward must repay the money from savings. | District Judge Davinder Lachhar said Lesley Hayward must repay the money from savings. |
| She admitted three counts of benefit fraud totalling £44,600 in July and has already repaid more than £35,000. | She admitted three counts of benefit fraud totalling £44,600 in July and has already repaid more than £35,000. |
| Sentencing of the independent councillor on Wokingham Borough Council has been delayed until 5 September. | Sentencing of the independent councillor on Wokingham Borough Council has been delayed until 5 September. |
| At a sentencing hearing at Reading Magistrates' Court the judge said it was "wrong in principle" that the taxpayer was still owed money when Mrs Hayward had savings of more than £6,000. | At a sentencing hearing at Reading Magistrates' Court the judge said it was "wrong in principle" that the taxpayer was still owed money when Mrs Hayward had savings of more than £6,000. |
| She previously admitted two counts of knowingly failing to declare a change in circumstances to the council and the Department for Work and Pensions and one of making a false statement to obtain Pension Credit. The offences dated between 2004 and 2012. | She previously admitted two counts of knowingly failing to declare a change in circumstances to the council and the Department for Work and Pensions and one of making a false statement to obtain Pension Credit. The offences dated between 2004 and 2012. |
| She told the authorities she lived alone, when she lived with her partner. | She told the authorities she lived alone, when she lived with her partner. |
| Mrs Hayward, 63, of Kingfisher Drive, Woodley, also sits on the Woodley Town Council. | Mrs Hayward, 63, of Kingfisher Drive, Woodley, also sits on the Woodley Town Council. |
| At a hearing on 12 August the judge discovered she had savings and told her to contribute at least £5,000 towards the £8,000 she owned the borough council. | At a hearing on 12 August the judge discovered she had savings and told her to contribute at least £5,000 towards the £8,000 she owned the borough council. |
| Mrs Hayward paid £500 since then and continues to pay an agreed £20 a month. | Mrs Hayward paid £500 since then and continues to pay an agreed £20 a month. |
| 'Future expenses' | 'Future expenses' |
| She was due to be sentenced earlier but the district judge said: "In light of the offences it seems wrong in principle she should have this money in a bank account. | |
| "She is being kept by the public purse as well. She has got money sitting there so she has absolutely no excuse." | "She is being kept by the public purse as well. She has got money sitting there so she has absolutely no excuse." |
| Paul Cantrill, defending Mrs Hayward, said she had not paid the council back as she needed the money for bills and future expenses. | Paul Cantrill, defending Mrs Hayward, said she had not paid the council back as she needed the money for bills and future expenses. |
| The councillor receives a state pension and expenses from the council of roughly £135 a week. | The councillor receives a state pension and expenses from the council of roughly £135 a week. |
| If she is given a custodial sentence of more than three months the council can take action to remove her as a councillor. | If she is given a custodial sentence of more than three months the council can take action to remove her as a councillor. |