A BENEFIT cheat who falsely claimed £12,468 in benefits has been sentenced to 100 hours community service and ordered to pay back the overpayment.
Elizabeth Patrick, aged 29, of Southworth Avenue, Bewsey, pleaded guilty to benefit fraud at Halton Magistrates' Court last Monday.
Patrick claimed the benefits as a single parent when she was living with her husband.
Between July 2003 and August 2005, Patrick claimed £11,070 housing benefit and £1,398.49 council tax benefit.
Adrian Webster, the council's benefits manager, said: "With the new methods of data matching, the obvious message to benefit cheats is - you will be caught'."
Patrick was also ordered to pay costs of £150.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article