17/07/2012
Rogue Traders Presenter Jailed For Benefit Fraud
A BBC television presenter has been jailed for 12 weeks after he was found guilty of benefit fraud totalling more than £24,000.
Dan Penteado, 40, a present on the consumer affairs program Rogue Traders admitted eight offences of dishonestly or knowingly claiming housing and council tax benefits.
Bournemouth Magistrates' Court heard he failed to declare his BBC earnings.
Penteado has been the motorbike riding on-screen sidekick of Rogue Traders star Matt Allwright since 2001.
The prosecution said the offences went back to 2007 when Penteado filled out his first claim form and failed to declare he had another bank account.
He then repeated the same fraud on each subsequent claim until 2011.
During this time Penteado did not tell Bournemouth Borough Council that he had earned more than £56,000 from his work on the television show.
He was paid a total of £24,077 in housing and council tax benefits.
His solicitor Terrence Scanlan told the court he committed the fraud from 2008 to 2012 because he was on a short-term contract with the BBC and made the "very poor judgment not to interrupt the flow of housing benefit".
The council brought the prosecution after a member of staff dealing with a benefits claim recognised the TV personality from a newspaper article.
(H)
Dan Penteado, 40, a present on the consumer affairs program Rogue Traders admitted eight offences of dishonestly or knowingly claiming housing and council tax benefits.
Bournemouth Magistrates' Court heard he failed to declare his BBC earnings.
Penteado has been the motorbike riding on-screen sidekick of Rogue Traders star Matt Allwright since 2001.
The prosecution said the offences went back to 2007 when Penteado filled out his first claim form and failed to declare he had another bank account.
He then repeated the same fraud on each subsequent claim until 2011.
During this time Penteado did not tell Bournemouth Borough Council that he had earned more than £56,000 from his work on the television show.
He was paid a total of £24,077 in housing and council tax benefits.
His solicitor Terrence Scanlan told the court he committed the fraud from 2008 to 2012 because he was on a short-term contract with the BBC and made the "very poor judgment not to interrupt the flow of housing benefit".
The council brought the prosecution after a member of staff dealing with a benefits claim recognised the TV personality from a newspaper article.
(H)
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Campaign to crack down on benefit cheats launched
The government has launched a campaign which aims to crack down on benefit cheats. The 'No Ifs, No Buts' campaign stresses the message that there are no excuses for committing benefit fraud. It is estimated that almost £1 billion was lost last year through benefit fraud, compared to £2 billion in 2001.
Campaign to crack down on benefit cheats launched
The government has launched a campaign which aims to crack down on benefit cheats. The 'No Ifs, No Buts' campaign stresses the message that there are no excuses for committing benefit fraud. It is estimated that almost £1 billion was lost last year through benefit fraud, compared to £2 billion in 2001.
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'Rogue Traders' Presenter Admits Benefit Fraud
A presenter of a BBC programme which exposes bogus and rip-off workmen was left red-faced today when he admitted to benefit and council tax fraud. Dan Penteado, who presents alongside Matt Allwright on Rogue Traders, pocketed more than £24,000 that he was not entitled to.
'Rogue Traders' Presenter Admits Benefit Fraud
A presenter of a BBC programme which exposes bogus and rip-off workmen was left red-faced today when he admitted to benefit and council tax fraud. Dan Penteado, who presents alongside Matt Allwright on Rogue Traders, pocketed more than £24,000 that he was not entitled to.
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Unemployment rate increases by 0.1%
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Unemployment rate increases by 0.1%
UK unemployment has risen again, the Office of National Statistics (ONS) has reported. According to the latest figures, the unemployment rate increased to 4.8% in the last quarter, an increase from 4.7% the previous quarter. The number of unemployed people rose to 1.43 million, an increase of 29,000.
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Fraud Alert For 25m As Child Benefit Data Lost
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Fraud Alert For 25m As Child Benefit Data Lost
The loss 'in the post' of computer discs with 25m people's personal details on them has led to a major fraud alert across the UK. The child benefit data on them includes names, ages, bank and address details. Questions are alreay being asked whether Alistair Darling "is up to the job" of chancellor.
21 January 2004
Conviction warning for benefits fraudsters
The government have claimed a victory today in the fight against benefits fraud following the conviction of a 41-year-old man at Luton Crown. David Thompson, 41, of no fixed abode, was sentenced to four and a half years at Luton Crown Court for his part in a scam to steal public money by presenting counterfeit giros at post offices.
Conviction warning for benefits fraudsters
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