A CANTERBURY woman has been freed from magistrate's courts on three years conditional discharge after allegations of benefit fraud.

Donna Louise Steptoe, 44, of Tennyson Avenue, was claiming carer’s allowance to care for an Emma Jane Hunt.

The benefit claims, which began in 2004, did not start fraudulently and the money was used legitimately to fund Steptoe’s caring role.

However, in 2007 she obtained a job in a care home and earned wages in excess of her ‘earnings limit’, which was £95.

This then meant her claims for carers allowance were not permitted, however the authorities were not informed of the change in circumstances so benefits were still paid into her bank account.

Steptoe, who suffers with anxiety and depression, entered an early guilty plea to the courts after being caught in 2009. She claimed that the money was still being used for care undertaken by her son-in-law, so it was still being used legitimately.She also claimed to be handing the cash straight over to him when it was paid into her account.

“I do not think my client has acted with dishonesty,” said the defence.
“She simply forgot to declare her earnings to the authorities.

“She did not retain any of the benefit money for herself, and requested a transfer of it into her son-in-law’s account, but this was never followed through.”

Magistrates recognised that Steptoe’s health made her unfit to complete community service, and so fined her £100 and issued her with a three year conditional discharge.