A mum broke down in tears in court after lying about her two children living with her to claim more than £16,000 illegally. Kayley Evans, 22, was 18 when she first embarked on the erroneous claim, a court heard.
Prosecutor Nabiha Ahmed said Evans received Universal Credit on the basis she was single, unemployed, and had two children living with her. She specifically notified the DWP to add the second child to her claim.
“In fact, the first child was placed into care a few weeks after being born and the second was placed into care immediately. Neither child has ever lived with Miss Evans,” she said.
Evans broke down in tears at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court which heard neither of her children had ever lived at her address because they had been taken into care, Birmingham Live reports.
Ms Ahmed said Evans ‘understood’ this would impact on her benefits claim. She confirmed the overpayment of Universal Credit was more than £16,000 and that Evans had no previous convictions.
She pleaded guilty to a charge of dishonestly making a false statement to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to obtain a benefit, advantage or payment. The court heard Evans had not been assessed for a mental health treatment requirement.
But Alexandra Youster, defending, said she preferred to be sentenced on the day rather than the case be adjourned, providing she would not be sent to prison.
She said: “I’m not sure the benefits of a mental health treatment requirement would outweigh the stress these proceedings are causing Miss Evans. If you were minded not to impose a non-custodial sentence today I would ask you to do that.”
Ms Youster added: “The offences date back to 2020. She had just turned 18 and had just left the care system herself. There’s a lot of background and trauma in this lady’s life. She was around very bad people and she was unwell at the time.
“Positively, since this all took place she is doing really well. She’s got her own flat. She has been working, albeit sporadically – she’s employed at two different locations. She has started a university course. I think this perhaps shows the naivety of this lady and lack of awareness she really does have.”
Evans, of Fordbridge, Solihull, was sentenced to a two-year community order with 20 days of rehabilitation activity requirement.
She was ordered to pay a £114 victim surcharge but nothing towards prosecution costs due to her lack of financial means. Her illegally claimed benefits will be retrieved separately.
District Judge Michelle Smith told her: “I can step back from a custodial sentence. I was considering a suspended sentence because of the value and length of time (of the offence).
“But I can step back in view of your age, circumstances and everything I have read about you, the trauma you have suffered as well. I’m minded that rehabilitation will prevent further offending.”
The money that this lady illegally received will be retrieved from her by the DWP either by garnishment of her earnings or any benefits she will now legally claim.
She broke the law, she cheated the system. However, it doesn’t seem like she’s had a good life to date.
I’m not condoning her actions and she will have to pay it all back, but what about all the deception and dishonesty at the hands of our politicians? For those who have never had to rely on benefits, let’s hope you never have to.
Sometimes when you’re in such a dark place you make mistakes. This lady had a lot of trauma in her life which can cause mental health issues, and prison isn’t always the solution.
After leaving the care system, she was obviously left on her own and would not have had any family assistance. Care leavers require organised and continuous help, and the care system requires a significant rethink and investment.
If a child isn’t shown any love from their mother or is neglected, then they don’t have a role model. If their parents aren’t fit to care for them, how do they know what is ‘normal’?
This would have been a young girl who had left the care system with very little experience of being loved or cared about and would have had no feeling of self-worth, and a lot of young people look for love in the wrong way because they don’t know any better ways, and very little chance of a happy life.
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