A fraudster who failed to declare her partner was living with her in a benefit claim has been handed a suspended sentence.

Sarah Leanne Corkill was overpaid £26,167 in benefits to which she wasn’t entitled as a result of the offence.

The 32-year-old, who lives in Westbourne Road, Ramsey, admitted six counts of making a false representation to obtain a benefit.

Deputy High Bailiff James Brooks sentenced her to 14 weeks in custody, suspended for 18 months, for each offence, to run concurrently.

Prosecuting advocate Roger Kane told the court that Corkill was claiming Employed Person’s Allowance (EPA) from August 2014 based on her being a lone parent.

However, in February, information was received that she was living with a partner.

Checks showed that a man was living at her address and surveillance of the property confirmed this.

Corkill had failed to declare this between May 2018 and November 2020.

When interviewed by the government’s Department of Health and Social Care, Corkill said the man had been living there ’on and off’ and didn’t provide her with anything, just popping in to see her children.

She denied they were in a relationship.

Mr Kane said that the benefit claim was not fraudulent from the outset and repayment of the amount overpaid was being dealt with by the Treasury.

A probation report recommended a suspended sentence as the most appropriate penalty and this was supported by defence advocate Kate Alexander, who handed in written mitigation for her client in advance.

Deputy High Bailiff Mr Brooks said that he had taken the mitigation into consideration, in particular the fact that Corkill is the sole carer for her children, and that there had been some coercion by the male concerned.

She was also ordered to pay £50 prosecution costs.