‘Greedy’ HMRC worker who stole £300k in child benefit only has to pay back £1

A “greedy” tax office worker who defrauded the taxpayer of more than £300,000 in child benefit only has to pay back £1, a court has ruled.

Tracy Ashbridge falsely claimed three of her children were disabled and also submitted false tax credits claims for another 15 children. She used details from her work computer system of members of the public to facilitate some of the frauds.

She was jailed for six counts of fraud while her husband, Robert Ashbridge, who helped her in one of the offences, was given a suspended prison sentence. Now her case has been back before Newcastle Crown Court under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

The court heard she benefited to the tune of £305,952 but, as she has no available assets, she must pay back just £1 – unless she comes into money in the future.

Prosecutor Neil Jones told the hearing: “She has no available amount to satisfy the order. There is absolutely, definitely, no available sum.”

Ashbridge had worked for HM Revenue & Customs from 2012 and had access to child tax credit claims as her role was to process them. The court heard she was paid just over £11,000 a year.

The mother-of-four began offending in 2015 when she made claims for child tax credits for her three youngest children. She thought other claimants suspected of offences were not being investigated and the “temptation became too much”, the court heard.

She made false claims that her children were disabled, which resulted in more than £180,000 being fraudulently obtained.

At one point Ashbridge messaged her husband saying: “Shall we have another child” and he replied saying “Are you taking the ****, how we meant to do that.” She replied: “Not physically lol” and he said “Do you mean money?”. She then asked if he could think of a child to use and he suggested a name and date of birth and Tracey replied with a texted kiss.

Ashbridge had access through her work system to legitimate claims made by members of the public and used that to her advantage. One family had written to HMRC saying they were moving to Poland and she claimed money for herself for their two children, a total of £59,000.

The fraud started to unravel when Ashbridge “became a little too greedy” and tried to backdate claims to 2009, which would have resulted in her receiving a further £107,000. However that money was not received, nor was another payment she sought to obtain as an investigation was launched.

Ashbridge, 44, of Plough Road, Sunderland, pleaded guilty to six counts of fraud and was jailed for two years and four months and Robert Ashbridge, 44, also of Plough Road, Sunderland, admitted one offence of fraud to the value of £180,000. He was handed 18 months suspended for two years.

Tom Storey, defending, said his client had depression and physical health problems, adding: “This was out of character for her.

“She lives with her husband and their four children, two of them are still teenagers. She is deeply ashamed of her behaviour and expresses remorse.”

Nick Lane, for Robert Ashbridge, said: “While he knew something of his wife’s offending, he said he didn’t appreciate the full extent of her activities until the point he was arrested and only when interviewed did he learn, fully, the sums involved.”

Mr Lane added that references for Mr Ashbridge included one from a reverend. He said: “He speaks of him being a trustworthy member of the congregation of his local church and he is trusted in the running and administration of the parish. In the full knowledge of the conviction, the reverend says he would have no hesitation in trusting him again in the future.”

Mr Lane added: “Mr Ashbridge is remorseful, he is deeply ashamed and embarrassed to find himself before the court to be sentenced for serious offences.

“They didn’t live a particularly lavish lifestyle. He was working as a chef in a care home and his wife earned a relatively modest salary with HMRC. They had a family to support.

“This has been hanging over the family for a significant period of time already.”

A Proceeds of Crime Act hearing will take place in relation to Robert later this year.


Source: Yahoo News