Overview

• Pearson pleaded guilty at Bolton Crown Court to two counts of dishonestly failing to disclose information about her finances.
• Prosecutors said she was overpaid £40,334.21 in Universal Credit across five years and also received a £536.22 council tax reduction.
• Judge Nicholas Clarke KC told her she would not go to prison and ordered her to make arrangements to repay the money.
• DWP checks, including a June 2023 request to its Operational Intelligence Unit, found undeclared Nationwide accounts and a Co‑Funds investment with balances reaching £40,616.37.
• Court reports noted she is receiving £55 a week in carer’s allowance and that the DWP is recovering the debt through deductions from that benefit.