Mum of two jailed for £65,000 benefit fraud

February 22, 2009

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DARTFORD: Mum of two jailed for £65,000 benefit fraud

1:20pm Saturday 21st February 2009

A mum of two has been handed a 12 month jail sentence after falsely

claiming £65,000 in benefits.

Cheryl of Green Street Green Road, Dartford, was jailed at

Maidstone Crown Court yesterday (February 20).

The 36-year-old pleaded guilty in January to falsely claiming income

support, housing benefit and council tax benefit between July 2002

and April 2007.

The court heard the 36-year-old had told the authorities she was

living as a single parent despite getting married in 2002.

Prosecuting, Munro, said records from her husband's employer and

the children's schools confirmed he had been living with

since 2001.

Lockhurst, mitigating, said had suffered from post-natal

depression and that Mr had debts of around £41,000 due to a

failed business.

He also said that ' 12-year-old son had Attention Deficit

Hyperactivity Disorder and Asperger's Syndrome.

And added: " I think it can be agreed the fraud was not organised, it

took place over a five year period. "

Judge Macdonald, sentencing said: " Your illness is not an

excuse, there are many ill people who do not commit crimes. "

was ordered to serve six months of her sentence in jail and

to spend six months on license.

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