Benefit cheat scams over £50,000

Lindsey Anthony of Draycott scammed the system by claiming she was a single parent claimed £53,477 that she was not entitled to. She claimed income support, housing benefit and council tax benefit on the basis that she was unemployed and a singe parent.

A joint investigation between Erewash Borough Council and the Department for Work and Pensions confirmed that she had actually been living with her partner for almost six years. She pleaded guilty to dishonestly failing to notify a change in circumstances in order to obtain benefit.

She was given a suspended sentence of 51 weeks' imprisonment and a 12-month supervision order at Derby Crown Court yesterday.