Resident sentenced for £12,500 housing benefit and council tax

A Tewkesbury Borough resident has been sentenced at Cheltenham Magistrates’ Court after pleading guilty to two offences of dishonestly and fraudulently obtaining housing benefit and a council tax reduction.

---

John Doyle, of Alderton, Gloucestershire, fraudulently claimed more than £12,500 in council tax reduction and housing benefit from Tewkesbury Borough Council.

On 24 February 2026, Mr Doyle admitted failing to notify the council that he had been working for two employers and that he dishonestly withheld this information to financially gain.

The fraud was uncovered following routine checks by Tewkesbury Borough Council’s Benefits team, which identified that Mr Doyle’s household income had increased, but the changes had not been declared.

As a result, he received an incorrect council tax reduction totaling £3,611.42 between 1 August 2022 and 31 March 2025, and was overpaid £8,983 in housing benefit between 1 August 2022 and 18 August 2024.

Mr Doyle was sentenced on 30 March 2026 to 24 weeks imprisonment on each offence to run concurrently, suspended for one year with 200 hours unpaid work in co-operation with probation. He was ordered to pay £85 prosecution costs in addition to a victim surcharge of £154 (total to pay £239 at £50 per month). The court was informed that the council’s is currently recovering the incorrectly awarded council tax and housing benefit.

Councillor Stewart Dove, Lead Member for Finance and Asset Management, said: “Fraud of any kind undermines the integrity of the support systems that exist to help those who genuinely need assistance. The council will always take action to protect public money and ensure fairness for residents. This case demonstrates that we have strong processes in place and that those who deliberately mislead the council will face the consequences.”

The investigation was carried out by officers from the Counter Fraud and Enforcement Unit, working jointly with the Department for Work and Pensions. The prosecution was brought by the Crown Prosecution Service.

Members of the public who have concerns about council tax or benefit fraud can contact the Counter Fraud and Enforcement Unit by emailing fraud.referrals@cotswold.gov.uk.

---