Stafford fraudster sentenced for £9k benefits con

A benefits cheat from Staffordshire who fraudulently claimed more than £9,000 has been ordered to carry out 40 hours of unpaid work and handed a community order.

Mother-of-two Elizabeth Treasaden claimed she was living alone to get income support, housing and council tax benefits.

But Treasaden, of Woodlands Close, Stafford, was in fact living with Darren Matthews, the father of her two children. The false benefit claims came to light after an anonymous tip-off was given to Stafford Borough Council.

Treasaden, aged 30, pleaded guilty to not informing the council or the Department for Work and Pensions about a change in circumstances to her living arrangements between July 2009 and October last year.

She originally denied the charge but changed her plea on the day her trial was due to take place at Stafford Magistrates Court. The court heard Treasaden had obtained £4,273 in housing benefit, £4,024 in income support, and £993 in council tax benefits.

She was given a 12-month community order, ordered to do 40 hours unpaid work and pay £150 costs when she appeared for sentencing at Cannock Magistrates Court.