A Deighton woman fraudulently claimed more than £34,000 after failing to tell the authorities she was living with her partner.

But Michelle Garnett’s lies were exposed through her own Facebook page.

The woman who claimed income support, housing and council tax benefits, and Jobseeker’s Allowance on the basis that she was a single woman living alone was living with her partner Keith Bancroft.

The Department for Work and Pensions became aware of the fraud after Mr Bancroft gave Garnett’s Riddings Rise address when he started a new job.

The 37-year-old’s Facebook page also confirmed that she was in a long-term relationship.

Garnett pleaded guilty to two charges of dishonestly failing to notify a change of circumstances affecting her entitlement to benefit and two charges of dishonestly making a false statement to obtain a benefit.

Kirklees magistrates heard that her initial claim for benefits in 2006 was legitimate.

But the DWP discovered that from August 2008 Garnett had been maintaining a common household with Mr Bancroft and her benefits were stopped in late 2014.

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Prosecutor Alex Bozman said: “He put himself at the same address when he started employment while Miss Garnett’s Facebook account also provided the information supporting there was a long established relationship.

“She was living with Mr Bancroft in essence as a common law man and wife and the total overpayment was £34,532.”

Rachel Sharpe, mitigating, said that her client’s partner moved into the property gradually, initially staying there to see the children.

She told the court that the cleaner is now paying back the funds but acknowledged she should have made the authorities aware of her change of circumstances.

Mrs Sharpe told magistrates: “Their finances were separate and that’s the reason she didn’t feel she had to declare that Mr Bancroft was living at the address.”

Magistrates sentenced Garnett to a 16-week jail term suspended for two years.

Garnett must also complete 15 days of rehabilitative activities and 200 hours of unpaid work.

She has to pay £85 costs and £80 victim surcharge.