Universal Credit Drives People to Commit Crime to Survive

POVERTY DRIVEN CRIME - Arron Hand claimed he was struggling financially after being put on the benefit as he was paid varying amounts each month - making it difficult for him to budget.

A man tried to walk out of Asda without paying for £200-worth of shopping in his trolley and claimed it was because he was struggling to put food on the table because of Universal Credit.

Arron Hand, 29, of Wharfedale Way, Grimsby, admitted stealing food items, valued at £191.99, from Asda on October 7.

Hand was struggling financially after being put on the benefit as he was paid varying amounts each month - making it difficult to budget, a court heard.

Rebecca Dolby, prosecuting, told Grimsby magistrates that Hand tried to push a trolley full of food out of the store in Burringham Road, Scunthorpe, but was challenged by security staff.

He told police that he would have taken the items home and stored them away for future use - and would not have sold them. All the items were recovered.

Steven Freestone, mitigating, said that Hand was suffering financial difficulties at the time.

"This is all food that he was trying to take from the store," said Mr Freestone. "There was no alcohol."

Hand had been moved on to Universal Credit but the amount of benefit he received was different every month.

"It was virtually impossible for him to budget sensibly because he doesn't how much he is going to receive," said Mr Freestone.

"He was struggling once the bills were paid to put food on the table.

"It wasn't shoplifting to feed a drug habit."

Hand was given a one-year conditional discharge and was ordered to pay £85 costs and a Government-imposed £21 victim's surcharge.

ABC Note: Masses of people on Universal Credit are now funding they cannot live. Women are being driven into prostitution. Work does not pay on Universal Credit and people are being driven into homelessness, poverty and more importantly criminal activity out of desperation.    

ABC Comment, are you struggling on Universal Credit?