A couple who pretended to have 18 children to claim more than £300,000 in child benefit have to repay just £2 between them.
Tracy Ashbridge, a HMRC worker, claimed that three of her children were disabled and falsified tax credits claims for 15 other children between 2015 and 2019.
The mother-of-four, who was jailed last September, used information from members of the public using her work computer system for some of her crimes.
Her husband, Robert Ashbridge, also helped her in one of the offences and received a suspended prison sentence.
Ashbridge had falsely claimed three of her children were disabled and submitted fraudulent tax credit claims for 15 children, with her husband helping her commit one of the offencesNORTHUMBRIA POLICEIn July at a Proceeds of Crime Act hearing at Newcastle Crown Court, it was determined that the total she made through her crime was £305,952. However, after an investigation discovered that she had no available assets, she was ordered to pay back just £1.
Now, her husband has also been ordered to repay part of the money they fraudulently claimed - yet once again, the amount is staggeringly low.
At a further hearing, Robert was found to have made £22,385 through his role in the scam, however, much like his wife, he had no assets and was ordered to pay the £1 sum or spend seven days in jail.
He admitted to one fraud charge however prosecutors said that he “encouraged” his wife's dishonesty during the scheme.
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The couple must pay off more of the stolen sum if they come into more money in the future.
When they were arrested, a total of £7,614, made up of various currencies, was seized from their home.
Judge Gavin Doig told Robert: “I declare the benefit figure to be £22,385.21 and the available amount is £1. The confiscation order is in the sum of £1, with seven days imprisonment in default.
“Mr Ashbridge has seven days to pay that sum.
“I order forfeiture of all cash found on March 6, 2019 at the defendants' home address.”
At the end of the hearing, Judge Doig said: "I sincerely hope I don't see you again."
She began working at HMRC in 2012
GETTYTracy started work at HM Revenue & Customs in 2012, where she could access child tax credit claims. Three years later, she committed her first offence.
The mum received more than £180,000 after falsely claiming her children were disabled.
However, her story began to unravel when she “became a little too greedy” and tried to backdate claims to 2009 - which would have seen her claim £107,000.
An investigation was promptly launched where the suspicious activity was noted.
In September 2023, the 44-year-old from Sunderland pleaded guilty to six counts of fraud and was jailed for two years and four months.
