Telford mother falsely claimed £85,000 in benefits

A Telford mother who falsely claimed almost £85,000 in benefits has been spared an immediate prison sentence.

Sally Masefield, 35, of Farm Lodge Grove, Malinslee, received overpayments totalling £84,130 in income support and housing and council tax benefits over a five year period, Shrewsbury Crown Court heard today.

She admitted four counts of dishonestly failing to notify the authorities of a change in her circumstances.

The mother-of-five failed to tell Telford & Wrekin Council and the Department of Work and Pensions she was living with two different men during the period of the offences.

Bosses at the DWP, which was paying her income support, and the council, from which she received housing and council tax benefit, believed she was living alone in Farm Lodge Grove.

But an investigation uncovered that between 2003 and 2008 she had lived as husband and wife with Alan Cox and later Ian Masefield.

Judge Peter Barrie gave Masefield, who now prefers to go by the name Sally Jones, a six month custodial sentence for the offences but suspended the sentence for two years. He also ordered her to carry out 150 hours of unpaid community work.

He said the DWP would try to get back as much money as it could through deduction to her benefits.

Mr Nicholas Berry, prosecuting, said Masefield did not inform the authorities she was living as man and wife between 2003 and 2008 with Mr Alan Cox.

Mr Berry said Mr Cox was in employment and the couple's relationship would have affected Masefield's benefit payments.

The court also heard Masefield had lived with Mr Masefield in 2008 who she later married but she did not inform the authorities of the change in circumstances. The couple are now estranged, the court heard.

Mr Danny Smith, for Masefield, said she had a low IQ and the offences were not complex.

By Iain St John