Telford gran took £45,000 in benefits fraud

Donna Asson, aged 45, admitted two offences of dishonesty.

But she was spared jail after a judge was told she was recently awarded custody of her young grandson.

The case related her failure to inform Telford & Wrekin Council and the Department for Work and Pensions that she shared a common household with Paul Asson between September 2011 and May 2015. She was overpaid housing and council tax benefits plus employment support payments.

Asson, of Dawley Bank, initially denied the offences but pleaded guilty at a previous hearing.

Mr Nigel Stelling, prosecuting barrister, said: “When she was interviewed about it she refuted the allegations. She denied any dishonesty and denied any suggestion that she and her husband were living together at that address.”

He said that if she had disclosed that she was residing with her husband that information would have affected her eligibility for the money.

Ms Debra White, defending, told the sentencing hearing at Shrewsbury Crown Court that Asson, who walks with the aid of crutches, has mental and physical health issues.

“She has provided a letter to the court in which she is remorseful, in which she apologises not only to the court, but to those who are close to her,” Ms White said.

But Judge Anthony Lowe said: “There is a sense this defendant does what she has to do when she has to do it to get the best result. This is manipulative behaviour. This is a person who did not plead guilty until March.”

“When she goes for her pre-sentence report she has criticised her lawyers saying that she has no idea why she has been advised to to plead guilty and that she has done nothing wrong.”

He said despite claiming to be unable to use the court steps Asson recently received guardianship of her two-year-old grandson and documents from the Family Court said she followed the child “upstairs”.

Judge Lowe added that he was “surprised” that the guardianship decision was made so close to the criminal matter that put her at risk of being jailed.

He jailed her for nine months suspended for two years. She must also attend 30 rehabilitation days with probation to be completed within 12 months.

“There is only on reason why I shall suspend it and that is your grandson,” Judge Lowe told Asson.

He added that she had “defrauded” taxpayers.