KAYLEY EVANS FROM SOLIHULL FACES COURT OVER £16,000 BENEFIT FRAUD AND CHILD NEGLECT CASES

A 22-year-old woman from Solihull, Kayley Evans, appeared before Birmingham Magistrates’ Court to answer charges related to a significant benefit fraud and allegations of severe child neglect. The court proceedings revealed that Evans had fraudulently claimed over £16,000 in Universal Credit by falsely asserting that her children were in her care, despite the fact that neither of her children had ever lived with her.

During the hearing, detailed and disturbing accounts of the neglect and abuse inflicted upon her firstborn child, born in 2020, were brought to light. Social services intervened after concerns about the child's welfare, which included evidence of physical harm, emotional neglect, and unsafe living conditions. The infant was subjected to inadequate nutrition, left to cry for hours without comfort, and kept in unsanitary environments. Furthermore, Evans was found to have exposed her child to dangerous individuals, taking the infant around violent and risky men, thereby increasing the child's vulnerability to harm. Due to the severity of these issues, the child was removed from her care and placed for adoption by the local authority.

Despite the removal of her children—both of whom had never resided with her—Evans continued to claim benefits as if they were still in her household. Prosecutor Nabiha Ahmed explained that Evans first made the fraudulent claim at the age of 18 and had deliberately updated her claim to include a second child, fully aware that both children were in care and not living with her. This deception resulted in an overpayment of benefits totaling more than £16,000.

Evans admitted to providing false information to obtain the benefits, and during the court session, she was visibly distressed, breaking down in tears upon learning that neither of her children had ever been in her custody. Her legal representative, Alice Youster, highlighted that Evans had no prior criminal record and had taken steps towards rehabilitation, including enrolling in a university course and working two jobs. She requested that the court proceed with sentencing without delay.

In response, District Judge Michelle Smith acknowledged Evans' traumatic background and her recent efforts to turn her life around. Emphasizing the importance of rehabilitation over punishment, the judge sentenced her to a two-year community order, which includes a 20-day rehabilitation activity requirement. The court also ordered Evans to pay a victim surcharge of £114. No prosecution costs were awarded, considering her financial circumstances. The Department for Work and Pensions will handle the recovery of the overpaid benefits separately.

This case not only underscores the issue of financial fraud but also sheds light on the tragic early-life neglect that led to the permanent loss of Evans’ parental rights, highlighting the complex interplay between social issues and criminal activity in the context of child welfare and benefit fraud.