A 44-year-old Shropshire woman who conned the Department of Work and Pensions and Telford & Wrekin Council out of more than £68,000 has been spared an immediate prison sentence.

Bernadette Adams admitted evading liability by deception by failing to declare she was living with her partner Thomas Spate between February 28, 2001, and February 2, 2009, relating to housing costs and council tax.

Adams also admitted dishonestly failing to notify a change in circumstances between August 19, 2003, and February 2, 2009, rel- ating to income support.

At Shrewsbury Crown Court yesterday she was sentenced to 24 weeks in prison for both charges, suspended for 12 months and ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work.

Sarah Allen, prosecuting, said Adams, of Brands Farm Way, Randlay, Telford, received support from January 29, 1999, but failed to tell anyone when her partner moved into her home. She said: “There was no notification on her circumstances.”

A statement from the Department of Work and Pensions said a joint investigation between its invest- igators and Telford & Wrekin Council found Ad- ams was living with Mr Spate and was found to have financial links to him.

The court heard the overpayment amounted to £30,207.64 in relation to the housing and council tax benefit and £38,347.02 in relation to income support. Miss Allen said Adams was paying back the amount.

Joanne Griffiths, for Adams, said: “She is a lady of previous good character. She is a law-abiding lady who desperately cares for her family and knows she has let them down.”

Recorder Nigel Daly said: “You have stolen over £68,000 over a period of time. I appreciate that when you started your claims they were quite genuine.

“There is no doubt that this sort of benefit fraud, of this sort of period, in these sorts of sums crosses the custody threshold.”

After the case DWP investigator Mark Pickering said: “No one should think they can get away with benefit theft. DWP and local authority investigators are working together to track down those guilty of stealing mon- ey they are not entitled to.”