A mother-of-six from the North East of England has been sentenced to three years in prison after admitting to a major benefits fraud that cost the taxpayer more than £105,000.
Eight-Year Deception Uncovered
Nicola Jewers, aged 43 and from Newcastle, systematically cheated the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) over an eight-year period. Her fraudulent claims began in 2016 and continued until 2024. The court heard she pleaded guilty to dishonestly claiming Universal Credit, Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), and Housing Benefit.
The fraud was centred on her failure to inform the authorities of a significant change in her circumstances. Jewers did not declare that her partner was living with her, which would have affected her entitlement to the state support she was receiving.
Scale of the Fraudulent Claims
The total overpayment she received amounted to £105,668. This sum was broken down into three specific benefits:
- Employment and Support Allowance (ESA): £64,294
- Universal Credit: £28,874
- Housing Benefit: £11,500
Sentencing her at court, Recorder Geoffrey Pritchard KC highlighted the prolonged nature of the offending. He stated that the crimes took place "over an extended period of time" and were the result of "an act of dishonesty, not omission." He emphasised that Jewers had a duty to report her change in circumstances to the benefit authorities.
Previous Conviction and Mitigation
The court was informed that Jewers had a previous conviction from 2010 for failing to notify a change in circumstances affecting her benefit entitlement. For that earlier offence, she had been given a conditional discharge.
In her defence, barrister Tony Cornberg suggested there had been "a bit of head in the sand" and described a complex domestic situation. He claimed Jewers found it "easy to tick this box" to make raising her children simpler. He told the court she was now repaying the money at a rate of £100 per month, was "trying to better herself," and had expressed "remorse and shame."
Despite these submissions, the judge imposed an immediate custodial sentence. Jewers was jailed for three years for the substantial fraud, which was described as a deliberate and sustained deception against the public purse.
