A 45-year-old mother of three who fraudulently obtained more than £120,000 in Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) benefits over a 13-year period smirked as she was spared an immediate prison sentence. Casey Webb, of Braintree Road in Terling, admitted falsely claiming Housing Benefit and Universal Credit between November 2011 and March 2025.
How the fraud was carried out
Webb submitted counterfeit tenancy agreements and forged rent receipts to claim she was renting a separate annex from her parents' landlord. However, investigators found no evidence that she ever paid rent, and the landlord confirmed the documents were fake. In total, she received £108,937 in Housing Benefit and £11,238 in Universal Credit—a combined sum of £120,175.
Court hearing and sentencing
At Chelmsford Crown Court, Recorder Edward Renvoize described the offending as “serious, sustained and pre-meditated.” He told Webb she “may not realise just how close” she came to being sent to prison. Despite the severity, he accepted that the money was not used for a lavish lifestyle but to provide her children with “a slightly better standard of living.” He noted she was of “low risk” of reoffending.
Webb was sentenced to 32 months imprisonment, suspended for three years, and ordered to complete 250 hours of unpaid work and 30 rehabilitation activity requirement days. As the sentence was read, she was seen smirking in the dock.
Defence argument
Dingle Clark, defending, said: “It’s always rather sad when someone aged 45 who has otherwise led a blameless life appears in the crown court for a serious matter. She has never had anything as serious as a parking ticket or road traffic matter before. Yet now she faces this serious matter.” He added: “She accepts that she was not entitled to the benefit but it’s not one of those cases where there are cars or holidays or fine clothes. It’s quite clear that she did not lead a luxurious lifestyle of any type. The money was mainly used to raise her children. She treated them perhaps to one too many cinema visits or takeaways, but miles away from the deliberate scheming to obtain benefits.”
Official response
DWP minister and Labour MP Andrew Western commented: “The message is clear – don’t think you can steal from hardworking taxpayers. Whatever your reasons for committing benefit fraud, know that our investigators are wise to every trick in the book and we will find you. And if you know somebody is fleecing the system, report it.”
