No jail for mother in £83k benefits fraud
A mother of six who illegally pocketed almost £83,000 in benefits has been spared an immediate jail sentence for the sake of her children.
An electronically-controlled night-time curfew on Kerry Cox will also be suspended over Christmas and New Year so the family's festive fun is not ruined. Judge John Maxwell told the 37-year-old, whose children are aged from three to 18: "Some people will be thinking I am being mighty generous to you but I am thinking of the children, not you.
"I am bending over backwards to protect them."
Cox, of Brook Road, Willenhall, illegally claimed income support as a single parent for six years despite living with partner David Mawhinney, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard.
In that time the couple had three children together and filled in birth details with information confirming they were living under the same roof, said prosecutor Miss Laura Culley.
Cox's partner also registered his car at her address and gave it as his home to his bank and an employer.
The scam had not been fraudulent from the outset but had run from at least 2003 to 2009 during which the overpayment was £82,936, the court was told.
Mr Sham Uddin, defending, said: "Even if she had told the truth she would still have been entitled to some form of benefit during this period of time."
Cox pleaded guilty to failing to notify benefit officials of her change in circumstances. The cash is now being clawed back from her legitimate benefits, the court heard.
Cox received a six month prison sentence suspended under supervision for two years with a four-month electronically-monitored night-time curfew that will be suspended from 7am on December 24 to 7pm on January 2.
