Benefits swindler is told to pay up

9:10am Friday 29th February 2008

A prison officer who worked as a volunteer policewoman in her spare time will be "made to pay" after fraudulently claiming more than £10,000 in benefits.

Shirley Bassey Udo-Affia, of Wordsworth Gardens, Borehamwood, submitted a claim for housing and council tax benefit to Hertsmere Borough Council in March 2005. It stated she was receiving either job seekers allowance, income support or pension credit, and that she did not own any property.But it was later found she owned one house and part-owned the home she shared with her husband.She had also failed to declare details of her bank accounts.Udo-Affia was spared a jail term at St Albans Crown Court on Tuesday, but the former Wandsworth prison guard was warned she faces four-and-a-half months behind bars unless the money is paid back.In September last year, the 40-year-old pleaded guilty to two charges of making false statements to obtain council tax and housing benefits, by failing to declare incomes, assets and investments she knew would affect benefit payments.At that time sentencing was transferred to the crown court, because magistrates believed their powers to jail her for 12 months would be insufficient.However, Judge John Plumstead said she would not be sent to prison if she paid back the £10,627 claimed fraudulently, as well as an additional £5,000 in fines and court costs, within the next eight months.He said: "You set about swindling the system of benefits you were not entitled to. "You failed to declare that you received any support when your husband was in work and in some respect supporting you."At the time you were working as a prison officer, someone in a position of trust and part of the justice system and there to deal with dishonesty. "You have worked as a special constable, and bearing in mind your offences, I cannot imagine anything less appropriate."You have assets in the hundreds of thousands, but you thought it right to take benefit from those that cannot look after themselves through misfortune or other reasons."I am not going to send you to prison, but I am going to make you pay."Councillor John Graham, finance and property portfolio holder, said: "This was a lengthy investigation made more disheartening as it was carried out by someone in a position of trust. "Hertsmere has zero tolerance for benefit fraud and we will continue to recover money from those who try to cheat the system."

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