A 45-YEAR-OLD mum was overpaid benefits of about £80,000 in a scam.
She failed to tell the authorities she was living as husband and wife with her partner in Rastrick.
Details of the fraud emerged when Jacqueline McIntosh, who now lives in Nettleton Avenue, Mirfield, pleaded guilty to five charges when she appeared before a judge at Bradford Crown Court yesterday.
And she was warned that a prison sentence could follow.
The hearing was adjourned to allow reports to be prepared before sentencing.
McIntosh admitted two offences of making false statements, one of obtaining wrongful credits, one of obtaining money transfers by deception and one of deception.
It is understood that the charges cover a period between 2000 and 2010 and relate to benefit claims for income support, housing benefit and council tax benefit.
Many of the claims were made to Calderdale Council.
McIntosh’s barrister Sophie Drake asked for the sentence hearing to be adjourned until June 28 so that a pre-sentence report could be prepared and further information about her client’s autistic son could be provided to the court.
Miss Drake said McIntosh had been claiming benefits legitimately for many years and the guilty pleas were on the basis that the offending was not fraudulent from the start.
Judge Peter Benson granted McIntosh bail, but told her: “You’ve pleaded guilty now to these five offences, essentially claiming benefits to which you were not entitled, and I’m told the figure overpaid is approximately £80,000.
“It is a serious matter and the court will be considering all options in your case including a custodial sentence.”
