A MUM who swindled more than £75,000 in benefits to pay for a boob job and luxury holidays then turned to running an illegal puppy farm to make more cash.
Tammy Hart, 48, made at least £35,000 from her criminal farm after being released from jail for wrongly claiming tax credits to fund her plush lifestyle.
6
6
6
Hart had also lied that she was single – when she was secretly married to the father of her two children.
A court heard she and her husband Neil Hart, 53, lived a “lavish” lifestyle after wrongly pocketing taxpayers’ money.
After being jailed for two years, she then turned back to crime, becoming an unlicensed dog breeder following her release.
Hart’s illegal puppy farm was busted, and the benefit swindler was ordered to pay more than £40,000 as a result.
The mum-of-two – then going by the name of Tammy Gunter – had already been ordered to pay back £23,358 from her benefits fiddle.
At the earlier hearing seven years ago, prosecutor Nuhu Gobir said Hart was granted tax credits by saying she was a single mother – and also made false claims for student finance and a £2,000 NHS bursary to train as a nurse.
Overall, Hart was handed £76,008.63 in tax credits between 2007 and 2016, the court heard.
The couple splurged the money on holidays to Las Vegas and Florida in 2011 and 2013.
She also took out a loan of £22,000 at one point for a holiday home in the US.
Mr Gobir said: “They were already in a relationship and had been living together as a family since 5 December, 1997.”
He said Hart claimed tax credits for nine years when she was working part-time in a shop and a garage.
Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court heard Hart even forged a letter purporting to be from HMRC.
Mr Gobir said: “Tammy Gunter made a claim that she was a single person working at least 16 hours per week.
“She stated that she had two children and no other income. The defendant dishonestly maintained she was single. She enjoyed a lavish lifestyle.”
Describing her false claim, Mr Gobir said: “She stated that she was separated and was a single parent with two dependent children.
“Neil Hart lied about his address to assist Tammy Gunter with the application. The total loss to the public purse in effect is £87,450.”
The DWP, HMRC and the HS Counter Fraud Service Wales began a joint investigation in January 2015 and the couple were arrested.
Hart admitted being knowingly concerned in fraudulent activity undertaken with a view to obtaining tax credits, one count of forgery and four counts of fraud.
Byron Broadstock, defending Hart, of Blackwood, South Wales, said the couple had a “tumultuous” relationship.
6
6
6
He said: “Many of the purchases that have been described as extravagant, they are out of the ordinary. They were often gestures in reconciliation.”
He said the plastic surgery “wasn’t simply for purely cosmetic reasons. It was psychological reasons.”
Hart was jailed for two years, while her husband was jailed for six months.
But when she was released she set up her dog breeding business.
Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court heard between September 2021 and May 2022 Hart had advertised 17 litters for sale, with puppies sold at upwards of £1,500 each.
She was found with 29 dogs cooped up in pens which were covered in faeces and urine. The animals were found to have serious health conditions with one puppy suffering from deformities.
Hart was given a suspended prison sentenced for unlicensed dog breeding and has been ordered to pay back the money in a Proceeds of Crime hearing.
She was sentenced to a 16-week custodial sentence suspended for 52 weeks for charges including causing unnecessary suffering to one of the 29 dogs.
She also admitted three counts of a banned practiced under The Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 for not declaring selling puppies in course of business, two counts of unlicensed dog breeding and three counts of failing to look after the needs of animals.
Hart was also disqualified from dealing in all animals for a period of seven years under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
Hart was ordered to pay a Confiscation Order of £35,639.43, to be paid within three months or face a custodial sentence of 12 months at Cardiff Crown Court.
She was also ordered to pay costs of £8,000, to be paid within three months after the confiscation order is paid.
Cllr Philippa Leonard, Caerphilly council’s Cabinet Member for Public Protection, said: “Unlicensed dog breeding is a serious matter, and it is hoped that the outcome of this case will serve as a strong deterrent to those who operate illegally.
“This case serves as a reminder of the importance of adherence with dog-breeding regulations and the necessity to obtain the required licences so that we as a council can monitor and safeguard animal welfare at dog breeding establishments.”
“Whenever possible Caerphilly County Borough Council will use the provisions of the Proceeds of Crime Act to deprive convicted unlicensed dog breeders of their ill-gotten gains.
“If anyone is concerned or suspicious of illegal dog breeding, please contact our Trading Standards or Licensing teams. Your information will help us tackle illegal puppy breeding in Caerphilly and will help stop animals being exploited by unscrupulous breeders.”
