A bingo playing couple from Blakenall in the Black Country have claimed over £20,000 in benefits, despite winning a massive bingo prize of over £50,000. Nicholas Bannister and his wife Frances now face prison sentencing and community service after officials charged them with benefits fraud. The couple won their huge jackpot when playing bingo in November 2006. They failed to notify authorities of the win, instead spending their winnings on their wedding, breast implants for Mrs. Bannister and various other purchases. The two bingo players continued to receive support until December 2008, when the Department for Work and Pensions and the Walsall Council discovered the Bannister’s fraudulent activities. Nicholas Bannister had gained £12,977 in income support, while his wife had wrongly claimed £8130 during that time.
In an interview, Mr. and Mrs. Bannister alleged to have spent their bingo winnings on personal items, and Mrs. Bannister claimed to have only been entitled to a quarter of the money that she had won. Nayan Patel, prosecutor for the DWP stated, “Mrs Bannister confirmed that she had won £52,540 but only had a quarter share of it. She stated that the money was spent on her wedding, a car, breast implants and treats for their children. However, she provided no documentary evidence to support the expenditure.” Mr Bannister was sentenced to a 12 week jail term, while his wife received a suspended term of 18 months and she was also ordered to complete 80 hours of unpaid work along with a £100 fine for her part in this bingo win debacle.