£14,000 benefits cheat escapes jail

A BENEFITS cheat has been given a suspended prison sentence after falsely claiming almost £14,000.

Kelaine Holness, 31, of Hollingsworth Avenue, Immingham, falsely claimed she was a lone parent to gain income support and council tax benefit to which she was not entitled.

Between 2006 and 2008, Holness received 13,857.94 in benefits she was not entitled to after failing to declare that her partner had moved into the household.

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Her deception was uncovered after a joint investigation by North East Lincolnshire Council and the Department for Work and Pensions.

Holness admitted four charges of dishonestly failing to report a change in circumstances to obtain benefits when she appeared before magistrates in Grimsby.

She was sentenced to 12 weeks in jail, suspended for a year, ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work and must repay the money she received.

A council spokesman said: "This is another example of the council and the Department for Work and Pensions working together to bring to justice those who steal public money. The message is clear – the council will not tolerate benefit cheats."