Wokingham Lib Dem turned independent councillor given suspended sentence for benefit fraud

A Wokingham Lib Dem Councillor who left the party to sit as an independent after being charged with benefit fraud has been given a 4 month prison sentence suspended for 12 months.

Cllr Lesley Hayward, who sits on both Wokingham Borough Council and Woodley Town Council, was convicted in August of defrauding the DWP of £44k after failing to notify them that her partner had moved in with her and they were living as husband and wife.

Hayward is now legally barred from sitting as a councillor or for standing for election.