DISNEY CHEAT TOOK US FOR A £50K RIDE
Faker hid fortune
A BENEFITS cheat took her family on a magical trip to Disneyland in California after hiding her £170,000 nest egg.
Christine Angell was busted after claiming she was on the breadline while concealing the fortune left to her in a family inheritance.
She falsely claimed £47,315.97 over five-and-a-half years in housing benefit and employment and support allowance – and blew the lot.
Angell took her family on the £15,000 Disneyland trip and another holiday to Orlando in Florida.
Jeffrey Jones, prosecuting, said: “The money was inherited from her brother and partner. Her benefits were paid on the basis that she would inform the authorities of any changes in her circumstances.”
The Department for Work and Pensions realised she was getting large sums of money she did not declare.
But she claimed she did not think she had to declare “gifts”. Cardiff Crown Court heard her brother died in 2008 and her partner passed away in 2011.
Angell had five NatWest accounts and got almost £40,000 in April 2012, later followed by £35,000.
In December 2013, £50,000 was put in her account followed by £47,000.
She was interviewed in June last year and denied doing anything wrong.
Angell, 61, of Cardiff, admitted three counts of benefit fraud.
She will be sentenced next month.