Colin Hegarty, 58, of Springfield Road in Blackpool, has been handed a suspended sentence after fraudulently claiming more than £70,000 in Universal Credit. He told the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) that he was a single person over a five-year period starting in 2020, while in fact living with a partner.
Investigation triggered by public report
The DWP began investigating in June 2025 after a member of the public reported Hegarty for not declaring his true living arrangements. Investigators found bank statements demonstrating financial links between the couple, but the most damning evidence came from social media, including a Facebook image showing Hegarty getting engaged to his partner during the period in which he claimed to be single.
Preston Crown Court heard on Friday (September 25) that Hegarty had claimed a total of £70,967.89 between February 2020 and September 2025 while disguising his true living status.
Admission and sentence
The 58-year-old immediately admitted dishonestly claiming benefits as a single person, telling investigators during an interview that there was no point in lying, the DWP said. He admitted he had failed to declare that his partner was living at his address while knowing it would affect his entitlement to Universal Credit. Hegarty said he believed declaring a partner would affect payments received by another non-dependant living in the property.
At Preston Crown Court on Friday, Hegarty was handed a ten-month custodial sentence, suspended for 12 months, and 100 hours of unpaid work after admitting fraudulently claiming benefits.
Recovery action and warning
The £70k he claimed is now classed as an overpayment and is subject to recovery action, the DWP said, ensuring those who commit fraud do not profit from their actions. The body added: "When receiving benefits, claimants must report changes in their circumstances promptly to ensure they receive the correct entitlement and avoid accruing debt."
The Minister for Innovation, Fraud and Data, Lilian Greenwood, said: "Benefit fraud is not a victimless crime. Every pound stolen is money that should be supporting those who genuinely need help and funding our public services. This claimant pocketed almost £71,000 by deliberately misleading the system for years but our investigators caught up with him. The message is simple, if you cheat the benefits system, you will be found, you will have to pay the money back, and you could face prosecution. If you know someone defrauding the system, please report it."
Reports can be made anonymously. The DWP said that members of the public can report suspected benefit fraud online at gov.uk/report-benefit-fraud or via the National Benefit Fraud Hotline on 0800 854 440.
