Cheat who claimed £22k is spared jail
A mum who falsely claimed more than £22,000 in benefits by saying she lived alone when she was actually sharing a house with her former partner has been spared jail.
Eileen Mitchell, who cares for her disabled daughter, had been receiving housing benefit and income support since 2011 while claiming she lived alone.
However, Mitchell had been living with her former partner Ian Gibson, who had moved in with her after they met up again in the street.
Sunderland Magistrates’ Court heard that Mitchell, 58, who suffers from Crohn’s Disease and has depression, falsely claimed a total of £22,554 from between July 2011 and February 2016.
The mum-of-two pleaded guilty to two counts of dishonestly failing to notify a change of circumstances affecting entitlement to benefits.
Defence solicitor Cheryl Ford told the hearing that her client, who was tearful in court, is remorseful for her actions.
She is now paying the money back at a rate of £20.40 per week for the income support overpayment and £20 a month for the housing benefit overpayment.
“She has spent her life dedicated to looking after her daughter and she is ashamed of the position she is now in,” said Ms Ford.
After interviewing Mitchell, Probation Service officer Alan Cutting told the court that Mitchell’s ex-partner is still living with her but “like a tenant” and has a job, meaning he can contribute financially.
District judge Roger Elsey sentenced Mitchell, of Dartington Close, Pennywell, to an eight-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months.
He told the defendant: “Benefit fraud costs honest taxpayers millions of pounds a year.
“It is an offence which is easy to commit and it has to be punished when detected.
“I am satisfied that a custodial sentence can be justified. The sentence can be suspended however.”
Mitchell was also ordered to carry out 140 hours of unpaid work, pay a victim surcharge of £115 and £85 in costs.