A Pulrose woman has admitted benefit fraud worth £8,322.

Sarah Louise Molyneux, aged 42, of Oak Avenue, worked at B&Q, Tesco, Mustang Sally, Abbotswood Nursing Home, Heron and Brearley, and Becky’s Bites, all while she was claiming benefits.

She pleaded guilty to nine counts of making a false representation to obtain a benefit when she appeared before magistrates last week and will be sentenced on June 13 after a probation report has been completed.

Prosecutor Rachael Braidwood told the court how Molyneux was receiving income support since January 2017 on the basis that she was a lone parent.

She also claimed Employed Persons’ Allowance (EPA) at one point.

However, her file was reviewed by social security as part of a fraud drive exercise and in June 2018 it was discovered that she was working at Heron and Brearley.

A statement from that company confirmed she was employed as a bar worker.

When interviewed by social security she admitted she knew she should have declared she was working and also said she had been working at Mustang Sally for a few weeks but asked the inspector not to approach her employer.

Further investigations found that Molyneux had also done work at B&Q, Tesco, Becky’s Bites and Abbotswood Nursing Home during the time she was claiming benefits.

When interviewed by social security again she said: ’It was a way to get straight money-wise. I know it was deception.’

Advocate Matthew Wilshaw asked for a probation report to be compiled before sentencing. Bail was granted in the sum of £250 with conditions that Molyneux reside at her home address and contact probation.