A COUNCIL employee is to face trial on a series of fraud charges.
Christine Bennison, 51, of Keswick Street, Hartlepool, appeared at Teesside Crown Court yesterday and denied eight charges, including five of obtaining money by deception.
Miss Bennison, who worked in the finance department of Hartlepool Borough Council, pleaded not guilty to five charges of obtaining a money transfer by deception between March and April this year. The charges allege she falsely represented that a man was entitled to receive housing benefit payments ranging between £78 and £585 from Hartlepool council.
She also pleaded not guilty to three charges of attempting to obtain a money transfer by deception, all on April 6 this year. She was released on uncondition-al bail until a trial date is fixed.
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