Mercedes Bradley
| Mercedes Bradley | |
|---|---|
 Mercedes_Bradley.jpg | |
| Born | Mercedes Bradley 11 September 1990 Cinderford, Gloucestershire, United Kingdom |
| 💼 Occupation | Flight attendant (Until Conviction) |
| 👔 Employer | EasyJet, Virgin Atlantic |
Mercedes Bradley of Cinderford, Gloucestershire is a convicted benefits fraudster in a case that attracted a great deal of media attention; almost every media outlet ran the story.
Fraud Case
The case began with an anonymous tip off to the Department for Work and Pensions from a member of the public, who knew Mercedes Bradley had a secret bank account.[1] Bradley was then questioned by DWP's financial Investigation Unit Team and confronted with evidence of her £48,000 secret bank account.[2] The stolen taxpayer money was used by Mercedes to fund her lifestyle including £10,000 on breast augmentation,[3] designer dental work,[4] a £4000 Peloton bike.[5] and a personal trainer.[6] Universal Credit rules state that any claimant must not have any capital higher than £16,000 to be eligible.[7] The money in the secret bank account was made up of substantial payments totalling £47,780[8] from a number of men that Bradley claimed were ‘ex-boyfriends’,[9] one man alone transferred Bradley over £30,000.[10] On 27 October 2022 Mercedes appeared at Cheltenham Magistrates Court where she pleaded guilty to dishonestly failing to notify the Department of Work and Pensions of capital savings or investments which would affect entitlement to Universal Credit between 26 March 2020 and 28 August 2021. Due to the seriousness of the offence Mercedes was bailed to appear at Gloucester Crown Court for sentencing.[11] On 24 November 2022 Mercedes Bradley appeared at court for sentencing. In mitigation Bradley's defence Barrister Karl Williams said "When she separated from her partner she made a legitimate claim for benefits. She moved from Swindon to where her family were living in the Cinderford area. This had a significant effect on her mental health." Bradley avoided a custodial sentence but was sentenced to a 12 month community order and must do 150 hours of unpaid work. She will also face a Proceeds of Crime Act hearing in the spring where she will be ordered to pay back the £9,147.11 plus court costs. The judge stated "She has been assessed at low risk of re-offending. I believe there are suitable alternatives to a prison sentence within the community.”
Aftermath
At sentencing, Bradley's barrister stated:
“She has since lost her employment as an air hostess with Easy Jet but, more significantly, with Virgin Atlantic she is now unable to fly to America as this conviction will prohibit her from doing so. She has effectively lost her career as an air hostess, a career that was rather dear to her."[12]
Also
"She pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity. She lives in rented accommodation and is making regular payments back to the Department of Work and Pensions, which currently amounts to just over £400. She is in stricken circumstances." From having £48,000 in a secret bank account and living a lavish lifestyle, Mercedes Bradley is effectively broke and unemployed.[13]
References
- ↑ "Gloucester woman sentenced for falsely claiming £9K universal credit". BBC. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
- ↑ "Brazen benefits cheat splurged £48k on plastic surgery, personal trainer and Peloton bike". Daily Express. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
- ↑ "Mercedes Bradley Virgin Atlantic stewardess spent £10,000 on a boob job". Daily Nation Pakistan. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
- ↑ "Fraudster cheated the state out of £10,000". Punchline Gloucestershire. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
- ↑ "Fraudster sentenced to community service after stealing over £9,000 in benefits". Gloucestershire Live. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
- ↑ "Benefits cheat splurged £48k on plastic surgery, personal trainer and Peloton bike". Knews Media. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
- ↑ "Benefits cheat used money for cosmetic surgery and an exercise bike". The Forest Review. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
- ↑ "Who is Mercedes Bradley? Biography, Wiki, Age, Former Virgin Atlantic Flight Attendant, Spent £10,000 On A Boob Job, Police Investigation Report, Twitter, Instagram & Some Quick Facts". The Education Hub. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
- ↑ "Universal Credit cheat had secret bank account containing £48,000". Western Daily Press. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
- ↑ "BRAZEN BENEFITS CHEAT SPLURGED £48 000 ON PLASTIC SURGERY, PERSONAL TRAINER & PELOTON BIKE". News 365. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
- ↑ "Cinderford woman bailed on benefit fraud charge". The Forester. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
- ↑ "Virgin Atlantic air stewardess committed £10k benefit fraud and spent money on boob job and Pelton". Sound Health and Lasting Wealth. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
- ↑ "Benefits cheat used money for cosmetic surgery and an exercise bike". The Forrester. Retrieved 6 December 2022.
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