Mum-of-three jailed for £40,000 benefits fraud

A MOTHER-OF-THREE has been jailed after she lied to claim more than £40,000 in benefits.

Samantha Evans, pictured, filled in claims forms stating she was a single mum who lived alone.

But Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard that over a three-year period she carried on receiving the benefits, despite living with the father of her children, who was in full-time work.

Prosecutor Neil Chawla said Evans first claimed income support, legitimately, in September 2002 when she was pregnant and living with her partner.

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In February 2003 she said he had moved out and she was a lone parent. And in 2005, she reiterated the same circumstances on the forms.

But it became clear to the authorities that Evans was living with her partner and she had failed to notify them of her change in circumstances.

Mr Chawla said this was backed up by documents, including one in July 2005 when Evans took out a joint loan with her partner and described herself as co-habiting. There was also evidence of her partner's wages being paid into her bank account.

Evans, who has no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to two charges of failing to notify a change in her circumstances in relation to benefits.

The court heard that the 25-year-old, of Bishop Road, Tunstall, was overpaid £24,155.19 income support and £16,240.96 housing benefit and council tax between 2005 and 2008.

She has been paying £9.75 a week from her benefits and of the total overpayment of £40,396.15 she has repaid £585.

Anis Ali, mitigating, said Evans was genuinely remorseful. She was in real difficulties at the time of her offending, both financially and as a result of her former partner's attitude towards her. Their relationship ended two years ago.

Mr Ali urged Judge Paul Glenn to suspend the prison sentence so Evans could continue to care for her children.

Judge Glenn accepted there was no suggestion of Evans using the money for any extravagance or lavish lifestyle but he said it had to be an immediate prison sentence and jailed Evans for 16 weeks.

Judge Glenn said: "Your partner moved in and lived with you. He was in full-time employment and his wages were paid into your account. You carried on claiming and receiving benefits.

"You obtained more than £40,000 to which you were not entitled. In that period, you had two further children by your partner and you made a number of financial applications, either jointly with him or representing that you were co-habiting. It is plain he lived with you for a substantial period of time, albeit not every night of the week."