Salon worker guilty of benefit fraud

A BENEFIT cheat, who claimed both council tax and housing benefits while working in a hair salon, has been convicted of fraud. Between May and November 2008, Jade Keeney, 22, claimed

A BENEFIT cheat, who claimed both council tax and housing benefits while working in a hair salon, has been convicted of fraud.

Between May and November 2008, Jade Keeney, 22, claimed �1,675.62 in housing benefit and �336.35 of council tax benefit to which she had no entitlement.

Hertford magistrates' court heard how Keeney, of Moorymead Close, Watton at Stone, failed to tell East Herts Council that she no longer received incapacity benefit.

She also omitted to tell the council that she was working at Belles and Shears, a hairdressers' in Hertford.

Sentencing her on September 15, magistrates gave her an 18 month conditional discharge and ordered her to pay �425 towards prosecution costs.

She will also have to repay the money she claimed.