Pregnant mother in £80k benefit fiddle

A pregnant mother-of-four who swindled nearly £80,000 in benefits has walked free from court.

Nicole Perry, aged 35, claimed she was a single parent while she was living with her partner as man and wife.

A judge at Wolverhampton Crown Court told her: "You're a liar who has no right hold up your head in society". But he did not send her to jail because her children would suffer more.

The court heard yesterday how Perry's deception lasted several years, until October, 2008.

Perry, of Parkes Hall Road, Dudley, admitted benefit fraud and illegally claiming £35,328 in income support and £44,224 in housing and council tax benefit.

She failed to tell the authorities she was living as man and wife with partner David Greenaway, the court was told.

She also claimed she was a tenant when in fact she was co-owner of a property.

Andrew Wallace, prosecuting, said: "She was purporting to be a lone parent without a partner, therefore she was receiving a higher level of income support than she otherwise would have done.

"She had falsified forms by claiming that she was a tenant and saying that her landlord was Dawn Jones, who was her mother."

Judge Advocate Michael Elsom told Perry she was a "thoroughly dishonest woman".

"Decent, hard-working people pay taxes and some of those taxes go to those who are in genuine need.

"You're going to have to own up to your children and say you've been told by a judge that you're a liar and a dishonest person. What sort of example does that set to your children?"

He said Perry did not deserve sympathy, but her child would be born in prison and others would suffer if he were to jail her.

She was given a 12-month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months.

The judge said confiscation proceedings were now under way to reclaim the money, adding: "If you find you lose your house, you have only yourself to blame."