Kathleen Calpin, 46, continued taking four types of benefits without telling the authorities she was living with a man
A woman who falsely claimed more than £28,000 in benefits over nine years has been given a suspended prison sentence.
Kathleen Calpin claimed four types of benefits without telling the authorities she was living with a man on Henry Street, Redcar.
The 46-year-old received income support, jobseekers’ allowance, housing benefit and council tax benefit between 2004 and 2013, Teesside Crown Court heard.
Prosecutor Jonathan Walker said Calpin was obliged by law to tell the authorities if there was a change in her circumstances.
He said investigations revealed she had been living with a man since around November 2004.
“She’d never reported that cohabitation,” added Mr Walker.
“As a result of that, the benefits would have been significantly reduced.”
She was overpaid a total of £28,202, the court was told today.
In three separate interviews Calpin denied living with the man and stated he was her half-brother.
Calpin admitted four counts of failing to notify the authorities of a change in circumstances affecting benefits - her first offences.
She was of previous good character, having never been in trouble before.
Mr Walker pointed to sentencing guidelines suggesting a punishment ranging from a community order to a short prison sentence.
Graham Brown, defending, said: “The average over the 10 years has been about £2,500.
“The Probation Service makes it very clear that this is not a defendant who has lived a high life.
“This is a defendant who is socially disadvantaged as a result of her educational background and alcohol dependency and came from a very violent previous marriage.”
He said her current relationship was “tumultuous” with periods when her partner was not living with her.
He added she was first interviewed in December 2012 and the case hung over her head for 18 months until it was resolved.
Judge George Moorhouse told Calpin: “Benefit fraud is very prevalent these days and is a serious offence.
“And your fraud took place over a number of years, which is another aggravating feature.”
He said he took into account her early guilty pleas, lack of previous offending and the delay in bringing the case to court.
Calpin was given a 10-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, with alcohol treatment and 18 months’ supervision.
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