Telford mother falsely claimed more than £34,000 in benefits

Debbie Carr claimed income support, JobSeekers allowance and housing and council tax benefit for a three-year period between 2011 and 2014 on the basis she was a single parent.

But Shrewsbury Crown Court heard an investigation, which included interviews with neighbours and ex-neighbours, revealed her partner Stuart Forrest had moved into their home in Wappenshall.

The couple initially attempted to deny they were living together.

Miss Samantha Powis, prosecuting, said Forrest claimed he was living on a barge and only stayed at the house during the day.

But checks with canal authorities found no record of any boat – and journeys he claimed to have made on his pushbike were "impossible" due to timings.

The prosecutor said Carr, who has two daughters, lodged an initial claim for income support in 2007 which was legitimate.

But she added: "She failed a declare a change in circumstances, namely that she was maintaining a common law relationship and a common law household with her partner, Stuart Forrest, between April 2011 and November 2014."

Miss Powis said the total amount over paid was £34,335.44.

Carr admitted dishonestly failing to notify the Department for Work and Pensions of a change in circumstances that would affect a claim for income support.

The 31-year-old also pleaded guilty to three charges of making a dishonest representation to obtain housing and council tax benefit and Jobseekers' Allowance.

Carr admitted a further two charges of fraud by failing to disclose to the Department of Work and Pensions and Telford & Wrekin Council that she was receiving income into the household so she could gain social security benefits.

Mr Brian McKenna, for Carr, said his client was now working five days a week as a school dinner lady and had already started paying the money back.

Judge Jim Tindal sentenced Carr to 20 weeks in prison – but suspended the jail term for a period of one year. The judge also ordered her to complete a six-month programme of supervision with the probation service and pay £100 towards court costs.

He said: "You swindled the public out of nearly £35,000.

"That is money that other hard-pressed families couldn't have because you were keeping it for yourself when you weren't entitled to it.

"This was a classic case of someone with a legitimate claim for benefits, who when their situation changes do not inform the benefit agencies. You stuck your head in the sand."

Forrest, who was also facing charges of benefit fraud and appeared alongside Carr in the dock, walked free after the prosecution formally offered no evidence against him and Judge Tindal recorded not guilty verdicts against him.