Mother spared jail term after benefits fraud

A 46-year-old Shropshire mother who fraudulently claimed more than £43,000 in benefits has avoided an immediate jail term.

She was told she should be "ashamed" of her behaviour.

Carole Bennett, of Peacock Hill, Alveley, near Bridgnorth, claimed income support plus council tax and housing benefit totalling £43,226 over a four-year period, Shrewsbury Crown Court heard yesterday.

Mr Recorder Andrew Easteal told Bennett she should be "ashamed" after he read aloud excerpts from a letter one of her daughters wrote to the court pleading for leniency.

Bennett admitted two counts of fraud by failing to notify a change in her circumstances.

She was given four months in prison suspended for 12 months plus 200 hours' unpaid work for each count to run concurrently.

The court heard Bennett defrauded the former Bridgnorth District Council out of £9,093 in council tax and housing benefit plus £34,132 from the Department for Work and Pensions in income support.

Prosecutors said she repeatedly failed to notify authorities of a change in her circumstances, namely that she was living with her husband again.

Mr Walter Bealby, prosecuting, said Bennett "point blank" denied that her husband was staying with her when quizzed by officials.

He said: "She never declared their joint account, but she said she had financial links with her husband because they had three children together."

Mr Danny Smith, for Bennett, said his client had started to repay the money from her ongoing benefit payments, but still owes the DWP more than £33,900 and the council more than £6,800.