A court heard she was ‘not living a lavish lifestyle’ but kept the fraud going for years
A benefit cheat fiddled more than £33,000 in wrongful payments by keeping quiet for an “extensive period” of time that she was living with her partner, who was working. Ex-care worker Shanie-Leigh Altoft kept the brazen fraud going for several years by repeatedly failing to declare what her true living arrangements and household finances were, Hull Crown Court heard.
Altoft, 34, Beverley, admitted two offences of fraud by failing to disclose to the Department for Work and Pensions and to East Riding of Yorkshire Council that she was living with her partner in a common household. This was in a bid to obtain Universal Credit and council tax benefit, between December 9, 2019 and February 8 last year. She at first denied the offences and the case was originally listed for trial.
Holly Thompson, prosecuting, said that Altoft told the authorities that she was a single woman, with a dependent child, and had no other income. She signed a declaration that this was true. An investigation was later begun by the DWP.
It was discovered that, when Altoft moved to Beverley, she and her partner were jointly liable for rent. She failed to declare that she was living with him at all.
He was working full-time and contributing to the household. They had a joint account. “At no time did she declare her joint residency with him,” said Miss Thompson.
“Given that he was in full-time employment, the two of them would not have had any entitlement through the DWP.” Altoft was asked specifically if he was living with her but she claimed that he did not do so and that he would stay with her only a couple of nights a week and that he usually stayed with his parents.
She later confirmed that they were living together. The total amount of the fraud was an overpayment of £33,162, said Miss Thompson.
During interview, Altoft said that she had been living with the man since May or June 2023 and that the relationship was “on, off” and “very volatile”. She said that, at the times of the claim, she was living on her own. She had a conviction for one unrelated offence in June 2011.
Billy Torbett, mitigating, said that Altoft pleaded guilty after early denials. “She is wholly apologetic, remorseful and, quite frankly, embarrassed about her offending,” said Mr Torbett.
“She has committed no offences relating to fraud, theft and other offences of dishonesty the like of this one. This offending is wholly out of character for her.”
Altoft had previously worked as a carer at a residential home but she left that job for another in the care sector. It did not “work out” and she returned to her previous employment as only a “bank carer”.
“She felt financially trapped and could not meet her financial needs,” said Mr Torbett.
“She has reconciled the relationship now. She is in control of her finances now. The DWP and the council are aware. Everything is now in order.
“That, of course, should have been the case for the entirety. She was not living a lavish lifestyle. She has nothing to show for this. She was simply getting by.”
Altoft had a young daughter and she now had “legitimate claims” for PIP Personal Independence Payments, Employment and Support Allowance, child allowance and carer’s allowance, said Mr Torbett.
Recorder Simon Goldberg KC told Altoft: “Your offending is aggravated by the extensive period over which it extended.”
Altoft was given a 15-month suspended prison sentence and 15 days’ rehabilitation. The money that she fraudulently received will have to be paid back, according to the council.
“If you don’t comply with the terms of that order or if you commit another offence, you can be brought back to court and that custodial sentence can be activated,” said Recorder Goldberg.