Tax frauds put mothers behind bars

Samantha Mills of Port Talbot, Wales, received more than 54,000 in tax credits to which she was not entitled. She claimed working tax credit, said her childcare costs had increased, said that three of her children were disabled, and applied for a childcare grant for two children, despite being advised she could not claim the grant while in receipt of working tax credits. She forged the signature of a nursery manager to say four of her children attended nursery, when in fact only one of her children did.

Even after being interviewed twice by the police and the HM Revenue and Customs, Mills continued to contact HMRC to claim she was disabled. She was jailed for 15 months.

Paul Roberts, senior investigating officer for the HMRC, said, 'This was a calculated fraud illustrated by Mills' constant dialogue with the HMRC. She made more than 350 calls to the department to make enquiries and incorrect statements. Those who think they can defraud the system should be warned by this case - we will pursue you actively and vigorously all the way to court.'

Melanie Evans, also from Port Talbot, was jailed for eight months after fraudulently claiming more than 22,000 and saying that she had given birth to a second child.

In another case, Helen Leith, a mother of two from Hampshire, pleaded guilty to three charges of obtaining tax credits worth 20,000 by deception. The scam was detected when a revenue office made a routine cross-check with her childcare provider. Ms Leith was given an eight-month suspended sentence.