Woman admits cheating benefit

MAGISTRATES have given a Shepreth woman a two-year conditional discharge after she admitted unlawfully claiming benefits from South Cambridgeshire District Council. Unemployed Michelle Booth, 33, of Blenheim Close, claimed £10,000 worth of benefits, afte

MAGISTRATES have given a Shepreth woman a two-year conditional discharge after she admitted unlawfully claiming benefits from South Cambridgeshire District Council.

Unemployed Michelle Booth, 33, of Blenheim Close, claimed £10,000 worth of benefits, after declaring she lived alone when she shared her home with a partner, who worked for more than two years.

Ms Booth admitted three offences when she appeared at Cambridge Magistrates' Court, and was given the two-year conditional discharge and ordered to pay £450 in costs.

The district council will now seek to recover both the over-paid benefit and legal costs from Ms Booth.

The court heard that Ms Booth was found out after a routine check showed that the couple were living together.