Warning over claims fraud

BENEFIT cheats have been warned they face prosecution after a woman was jailed for illegally claiming more than £55,000.

Deborah Davies, aged 46, of Highgrove Road, Trent Vale, was jailed for six months on Thursday after failing to declare she had got married and continuing to claim benefits.

Councillor Kieran Clarke, portfolio holder for resources at Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: "This was a substantial, complex and intentional fraud from the outset and even when interviewed, Deborah Davies continued to lie and protest her innocence.

"We want the people of Stoke-on-Trent to know that we will treat cases of benefit fraud very seriously and will use the full weight of the powers available to us to ensure that taxpayers' money isn't wasted in this way."