A MOTHER-OF-THREE wrongfully claimed more than £1,000 in housing benefits, a court was told.
Sallie West, from Raw Nook Road in Salendine Nook, appeared at Huddersfield Magistrates’ Court yesterday.
The 39-year-old pleaded guilty to two counts of failing to notify Kirklees Council of her financial circumstances.
Carol English, prosecuting, said West had not notified Kirklees Council she had got a cleaning job.
She said between September 2007 and April 2008, West was getting paid an average of £107.67 a fortnight for working 9-and-a-half hours a week.
Mrs English also said West had failed to tell the council she was getting regular child maintenance payments.
In total West had over- claimed £1,044 she wasn’t entitled to.
Defence lawyer Carl Kingsley said West hadn’t realised she needed to tell the council she was getting child maintenance payments.
He said: “She thought it wasn’t her money in the first place – but was for her 18-year-old daughter and the money was going towards her driving lessons.”
Mr Kingsley said West had been told by someone employed by the council she didn’t need to declare work of less than 16 hours a week.
Kirklees Council had previously invited West for a formal caution, but the defendant said she hadn’t received the letters so didn’t go. She was later summoned to court.
Chairman of the magistrates Malcolm Turner said: “We go along with what Mr Kingsley has said on your behalf.”
He said they had also taken into consideration West’s previous good character.
West was given a 12-month conditional discharge and was ordered to pay £200 court costs.
