Willenhall cook in £37k benefit fraud avoids prison
A?benefits?cheat who claimed more than £37,000 despite working as a cook has avoided an immediate prison term.
Willenhall woman Mary Spittle was given a suspended jail sentence and ordered to do 180 hours unpaid work for the fraud over more than four years.
The 55-year-old received incapacity benefit, housing and council tax benefit after failing to declare a change in circumstances she was working.
She started claiming benefits in 2005 on the basis she was unable to work, following a road traffic accident, and had no savings.
In June 2007 she started work as a cook for United Care Limited and was paid £6.50 an hour, but kept receiving benefits.
Spittle, of Pinson Road, pleaded guilty to two charges relating to failing to notify a change in circumstances to Walsall Council and the Department of Work and Pensions at Walsall Magistrates Court last month.
Yesterday at Wolverhampton Crown Court Judge Martin Walsh sentenced her to 42 weeks in prison suspended for two years.
The total overpayment was £37,606.83. Mr Patrick Currie, defending, said: "It wasn't fraudulent from the outset.
"She is of good character, she has never been in trouble before.
If she could turn back the clock she would, she is genuinely remorseful. Despite having these benefits she has not had in anyway a lavish lifestyle.
"She is a lady that has made attempts to put matters right by making payments back to the relevant authorities."
Spittle had no previous convictions.
