Man stole £20k of his partner's disability payments

Suffolk County Council's counter-fraud team investigated where the money was going

A man defrauded his partner of £20,000 worth of social care payments and kept the money for himself.

Andrew Leacock, of Coronation Road, Ipswich, admitted to creating and submitting false documents and expense claims between October 2017 and February 2021.

The payments were meant to provide disability support for his partner.

Leacock was sentenced to two years in prison suspended for two years, 30 days of rehabilitation and ordered to pay £1,800 in compensation by Ipswich Crown Court.

A social care financial review raised concerns over how the direct payments had been used.

These concerns, combined with inconsistencies relating to claims being made for cleaning, ironing and gardening services prompted an investigation by Suffolk County Council's counter-fraud team.

It found Leacock had assumed full control of his partner's direct payments receiving the funds into his own account.

He alleged payments were being made in cash to three individuals for services but the people mentioned did not exist.

Beccy Hopfensperger, cabinet member of adult care at the county council, said she hoped the outcome "serves as a clear warning to others who may be thinking of trying to defraud social care".