‘Agoraphobic’ Hove model jailed for using £50k benefits fraud to fund foreign holidays

A former model and author from Hove was jailed after she overclaimed more than £50,000 in benefits.

Tracy Johnson, 52, of Adelaide Crescent, Hove, said that she was a housebound agoraphobic who was chronically afraid of other people.

Instead she was travelling the world enjoying trips to Argentina, India, New York and Madrid.

She dishonestly claimed more than £10,500 in housing benefit and a further £1,600 from Brighton and Hove City Council in two years.

The fraud came to light when council officials received a housing benefit claim from someone else who claimed to be renting Johnson’s flat from her as she had gone travelling.

Johnson moved to Wales but continued to travel abroad while claiming benefits in Britain.

Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court was told that the combined overpayments to her were more than £50,000 with offences continuing up until 2012.

She was jailed for a year after being prosecuted by the council and the Department for Work and Pensions.

Her claims included income support, disability living allowance, housing benefit and council tax benefit.

Penny Wood, the council’s senior benefits fraud investigator, said: “This was a blatant attempt to gain a number of benefits to fund a luxury lifestyle.

“This money belongs to taxpayers and is there to help those in need.

“We will continue to track down those who are abusing the system and work with partner organisations to make sure fraud is exposed and those who take money in this way are prosecuted.”