Private school parents in ‘£42k benefits fraud'

A COUPLE with almost £50,000 in the bank fraudulently claimed £42,500 in benefits while sending their children to private school, a court has heard.

?Leslie and Sarah Grant arrive in court over benefit fraudSWNS

Leslie and Sarah Grant arrive in court over benefit fraud

Sarah and Leslie Grant from Cheltenham were sufficiently well off to be be able to afford almost £2,000 a month rent.

They were also able to send their children to a school where fees can be as high as £23,000 a year.

Yet the couple claimed £38,000 in pension and housing benefit and £4,500 council tax benefit, Crown Court was told this week.

They also used business accounts for personal expenses, it was alleged.

The Grants deny falsely claiming benefits without declaring they had other income.

But Tara Wolfe, prosecuting, said: “Mr and Mrs Grant knew they were under an obligation to inform the Department for Work and Pensions and the council of money coming into their accounts which affected their entitlement to benefits.”

Investigations began when questions arose about how the Grants were able to pay £1,950 a month rent with only £775 in housing allowance.

The Grants deny falsely claiming benefits without declaring they had other income

Mrs Grant told officials her parents had paid the rent shortfall and the school fees.

The court heard that between September 2010 and October 2011 Mrs Grant, 37, received £40,000 from her mother.

She also drew income as the director of three companies which

Mr Grant, 67, ran while claiming pension credit.

But the couple claim that the firms they were involved in were in liquidation.

Yesterday forensic account-ant Neil Ward told the court that spending on luxury items such as school fees, extravagant holidays, expensive purchases and nice clothes could have been paid for by borrowing.

But he said it was clear that the couple had had more than £48,000 in funds.

The trial continues.

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