A Telford woman received more than £84,000 in benefits after falsely claiming she lived alone, a court heard today.

Sally Masefield, 35, of Malinslee, admitted making false claims totalling £84,130.93 from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and Telford & Wrekin Council.

Shrewsbury Crown Court heard Masefield failed to notify either authority her circumstances had changed.

Bosses at the DWP, which was paying her income support, and the council, from which she received housing and council tax benefit, believed she was living alone in Farm Lodge Grove.

But the court heard an investigation uncovered that between 2004 and 2008 she had lived as husband and wife with Alan Cox and later Ian Masefield.

Judge Peter Barrie adjourned the case for pre-sentence reports on Masefield, who failed to notify authorities that she was married.

She admitted two charges of dishonestly failing to notify the DWP of a change in circumstances.

Masefield also admitted two other charges of failing to inform Telford & Wrekin Council of a change in circumstances regarding housing and council tax benefit.

Mr Daniel White, prosecuting, said the money was falsely claimed between February 2004 and August 2008, while she was married on two separate occasions.

He said: “The overall period the claims were made is between June 5, 2003 and September 9, 2008 and the total amount claimed for is £84,130.93, which has been accepted in full by the defendant.”

Mr Danny Smith, for Masefield, requested six weeks for the pre-sentence report to be carried out.

He said: “She has admitted it at the first available opportunity and has shown remorse.”

Masefield will appear back at the court in the week commencing September 14 for sentencing.

A spokeswoman for the Department for Work and Pensions said: “Benefits thieves are costing the taxpayer almost £1 billion per year.

“This money is intended to help those most in need and not line the pockets of criminals.

“We will continue to tackle this problem at the frontline.”

By Andrew Morris