Top News

A benefits cheat convicted of fraudulently obtaining £85,000 over an eight year period has avoided jail. Former care worker Louise Stuart, 60, from Maryport, Cumbria, was given an 11 month suspended prison sentence after pleading guilty to two counts of failing to disclose circumstances affecting her entitlement to benefits at Carlisle Crown Court.

Stuart received the benefits while claiming that she was 'single' despite secretly living with her partner for eight years. She said in her benefits claims she was a single woman with no additional income, which entitled her to Employment Support Allowance (ESA) and housing benefit. As well as avoiding jail, Stuart was also permitted to pay the money back at a rate of £50 per month, a debt that will not be cleared until 2167.

Investigators from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) found she had been living with her fiance Russel Harrison, 67, since September 2016.

Stuart has been ordered to repay the £49,059 in ESA and £36,785 in housing benefits over a period of 141 years.

Judge Michael Fanning accepted that the public purse was unlikely to be reimbursed as he handed Stuart an eight-month curfew between 8pm and 7am.

Investigators were able to confirm the pair's relationship after discovering photographs posted on Facebook about their engagement and holidays abroad.

Prosecutor Kim Whittlestone said the evidence did not necessarily show that Stuart's benefit applications were dishonest when they were first submitted, even though there were indications she was already involved with Harrison at that time.

However, she told the court that by the time the deception came to light the couple had been cohabiting since the beginning of 2018 - almost eight years - and that this change in her living arrangements ought to have been reported to the DWP.

Ms Whittlestone added that Stuart had previously been convicted of offences involving dishonesty, although most dated back to her youth.

Speaking in Stuart's defence, barrister Emily Wilson referenced glowing accounts of her character, integrity and trustworthiness.

Ms Wilson cited financial difficulties after losing her job of 18 years due to ill-health as a mitigating factor for the offence.

She added: "She has been a hard-working person throughout the majority of her life."

Judge Fanning remained unmoved by the defence claims, telling Stuart in sentencing: "It's dishonesty and you knew it was."