A 41-year-old woman who fraudulently received over £36,000 in income support was not living a “luxury” lifestyle, her advocate told the Royal Court as she was sentenced to 210 hours of community service.
Victoria Louise Fisher appeared in court on Friday after admitting four counts of fraudulently receiving income support.
Over a five-year period from March 2017 to 12 September 2023, Fisher failed to disclose multiple salary increases and her child’s employment, fraudulently receiving £36,261.40.
Fisher began her most recent claim for income support in March 2017.
In early 2018 she informed the department that she had started work, which reduced her benefit payments.
However, from 2019 onwards she failed to notify the department of several important changes, including salary increases, her child moving into full-time employment, and later her own change of job where her earnings rose significantly.
These omissions meant she continued to receive income support she was no longer entitled to.
Fisher pleaded guilty to four counts of benefit fraud in June 2025.
Advocate Sarah Dale, defending, said she was “extremely remorseful” and that she had been dealing with a serious health matter, for which she had surgery.
She said Fisher had cooperated and made admissions during the investigation.
Advocate Dale added that the woman wasn’t living a “luxury” lifestyle and the crime was down to “poor financial management”.
“She knows she should have been able to organise herself and not end up receiving more money than she should have done,” the advocate said.
“She is extremely remorseful of the situation that she finds herself in but also, she acknowledges the impact that it has on the community.”
Handing down the sentence, the Bailiff, Sir Timothy Le Cocq, said the court was “prepared to be merciful”.
Fisher was sentenced to 210 hours of community service.
The Bailiff, Sir Timothy Le Cocq, was presiding, with Lieutenant-Bailiff Jane Ronge and Jurat Alison Mary Opfermann.