A Littledean couple have been charged with housing and Council Tax benefit frauds and are to appear before Cheltenham magistrates next month.

Kirsty and Scott Tribe, both aged 35 and of Oak Way, Littldean, are accused of dishonestly failing to notify Forest of Dean District Council for a six year period between July 2016 and August 2022 that their household income had increased.

The two charges allege that their failure to disclose the information was in order to make a gain for themselves by getting a reduction in Council Tax and also because they knew that declaring it would affect their entitlement to Housing Benefit.

Cheltenham Magistrates considered the case on January 26 this year and bailed the couple unconditionally until March 15 when it is expected they will make their pleas to the charges.