Couple Sentenced for £630,000 Benefit Fraud to Fund Property Empire
Couple swindled £630k benefits to build ‘Monopoly’ style property empire including Spain holiday home & lodge with pool
Image: The Sun
Steve Benstock, 62, and Kim Benstock, 69, defrauded the UK government of £630,000 in benefits over two decades to build a property empire, including a holiday home in Spain. Steve received a five-year prison sentence, while Kim received a nine-month suspended sentence.
- 01The couple claimed benefits while concealing substantial income and assets, including multiple properties valued at around £400,000.
- 02Steve Benstock was convicted of 12 offences related to fraud and tax evasion, while Kim was convicted of seven counts.
- 03The total amount defrauded from the Department of Work and Pensions was £628,031.18.
- 04Steve adopted multiple aliases, including 'Steve Twinley,' to facilitate the fraud.
- 05The case highlights the UK government's commitment to combatting benefit fraud, as stated by Work and Pensions Minister Andrew Western.
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Steve Benstock, aged 62, and his wife Kim Benstock, 69, were convicted of defrauding the UK government out of £630,000 in benefits over a span of two decades. They falsely claimed benefits while failing to disclose their substantial earnings and property holdings, which included a holiday home in Fuerteventura, Spain, and various properties in the UK. Prosecutor Alex Davidson outlined how the couple amassed an impressive portfolio reminiscent of the board game Monopoly, with properties valued at approximately £400,000. Steve was sentenced to five years in prison, while Kim received a nine-month suspended sentence. The couple's fraudulent activities included submitting false tenancy agreements and failing to declare income from Steve's employment at a pub. The total fraud amounted to £628,031.18, with the government emphasizing its commitment to tackling such fraud cases.
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The case underscores the financial implications of benefit fraud on public resources.
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