Name: Court Result & Sentencing: Data Anonymised
Start: 2014-02-17
Location: Swansea Crown Court

Court Case Result - Criminal Sentence

Offence: Obstructing a coroner / Intending to prevent a coroner from holding an inquest / Preventing the Burial of a Body
Sentence: Custodial immediate

Total Sentence: 1 Year 8 Months
Likely Release / Eligibility Date: 17/1/2015
Sentenced Upon: Guilty Plea
Distinguishing Features / Details: She pleaded guilty to conspiracy to prevent the lawful and decent burial of a body and benefit fraud. She failed to notify authorities of the death (natural causes) of a 60-year-old farmer she was caring for between October 2008 and June 2013. She unlawfully claimed a total of £77,318.73 in benefits (£21,718 in disability living allowances, £9,415 in carer's allowance, £10,143 income support and £36,041 in pension credits) between October 2008 and 2012. Following concerns raised by the Department of Work and Pensions, police discovered the body of the 60-year-old man in the grounds of his smallholding on June 17 2013.

The judge said: "You Boger-Ore Adie and you Rebeka Ladan Sturdey took advantage of the sad death of Mr Sturdey to conceal the fact that he had passed away to thereby claim benefits to which you were not entitled. Whatever the initial motive, it gave you the opportunity to enrich yourselves at the expense of the rest of us... Although there is no suggestion of foul play, there is a clear public interest in deterring people from acting as you have."
Case Timeline: View Timeline
Crime Location: View Map

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