A couple lied about having 18 kids to get more than £300,000 in child benefit. They only have to pay back £2 between them. Tracey Ashbridge, who worked for HMRC, lied about three of her children being disabled and lied about 15 other children’s disability claims between 2015 and 2019.
A couple lied about having 18 kids to get more than £300,000 in child benefit. They only have to pay back £2 between them. Tracey Ashbridge, who worked for HMRC, lied about three of her children being disabled and lied about 15 other children’s disability claims between 2015 and 2019.
In July, a Proceeds of Crime Act hearing at Newcastle Crown Court found that she made a total of £305,952 from her crime. However, she was only told to pay back £1 after a probe showed that she did not have any assets to offer.
Now, her husband has been told to return some of the money they falsely claimed, but the amount is again shockingly small. At a second hearing, it was found that Robert had made £22,385 from the scam. However, he had no assets, just like his wife, and was told to pay the £1 or go to jail for seven days.
At least one fraud charge was dropped against him, but prosecutors said he “encouraged” his wife to be dishonest during the plan. The couple will have to pay back more of the money that was stolen if they ever get more money.
When they were caught, a total of £7,614, in different currencies, was taken from their home. Judge Gavin Doig told Robert, “I declare the amount of benefit to be £22,385.21, and the amount that can be used is £1.” The order to take something away is for £1, and if it is not followed, the person will be jailed for seven days.
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That amount needs to be paid by Mr. Ashbridge in seven days. “I make the defendants give up all the cash that was found at their home on March 6, 2019.”
Tracy started working at HM Revenue & Customs in 2012, and that is where she was able to make claims for child tax credits. After three years, she did her first wrongdoing. The mom got more than £180,000 after lying about saying her kids had disabilities.
There were holes in her story, though, when she “got a little greedy” and tried to file claims going back to 2009, which would have given her £107,000. The suspicious behavior was quickly the subject of a review. He or she was jailed for two years and four months after pleading guilty to six counts of fraud in September 2023.
