A DWP worker stole thousands of pounds worth of benefits payments by diverting them into her own bank account.
Kristy Merner, of Sharples Crescent, Crosby, stole 20 payments of employment support allowance from vulnerable people and transferred them into her own bank account. The 44-year-old was working for the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) at the time which meant she had access to benefits claimants' bank accounts.
The Crown Prosecution Service said Merner stole £7,621.34 in total. DWP’s Fraud and Error Service started a criminal investigation and Merner was interviewed under caution at Wirral police station on 20 December 2022, and at Crosby police station on 15 March 2023.
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In a prepared statement Merner said she was truly sorry for what she had done and explained that she’d had a gambling addiction since 2019 which had spiralled out of control.
She pleaded guilty to 20 counts of Fraud at Sefton Magistrates’ Court on August 20 this year. Merner appeared before Liverpool Crown Court on Wednesday, October 18, where she was sentenced to 12 months in prison, suspended for 18 months.
She must carry out 150 hours of unpaid work, 20 days of a rehabilitation activity and engage with a six month programme to address her issues.
Senior Crown Prosecutor George Ward, of CPS Mersey Cheshire’s Fraud Unit, said: “Kristy Merner is a woman of previous good character whose gambling addiction has led her into criminality.
“The benefits she diverted were for claimants who were considered especially vulnerable because of their physical and mental health problems and they had advocates looking after their bank accounts.
“Ms Merner abused her position of trust to take this money. She has reimbursed all of the money that she stole and it is clear she regrets what she did.
“The benefits system exists to help some of the most vulnerable people in society and there are many demands on it. This kind of fraud takes money away from them and is criminal. The Crown Prosecution Service works with the Police and other Government agencies to bring these fraudsters to justice."
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