A woman has been sentenced to community service for a £6,247 benefit fraud.

Megan Louise Fielden, aged 21, of The Bretney, admitted that she didn’t tell authorities when her partner moved in with her.

Magistrates sentenced her to do 80 hours of unpaid work and pay £5,000 in compensation to the Department of Health and Social Care, the maximum that can be ordered.

Prosecutor Richard Butters told the court how, between March and August 2018 Fielden was claiming income support based on being a lone parent.

However, information was received that her partner was living with her.

The house was put under surveillance between July and August and Fielden’s boyfriend was seen leaving the property each morning with one exception.

Late night checks also resulted in his vehicle being seen parked at the address.

Financial investigations found that money was regularly transferred between the couple’s accounts.

Interview

Fielden was interviewed and said that she had been in a relationship for around a year and that her boyfriend had been staying over three or four nights a week.

She said that he was then sent to prison in January and when he was released, he moved into her house.

Fielden said that her partner had moved in with her because she did not feel safe on her own.

But she said she had not declared the change in her circumstances because she believed she could not get a joint-tenancy agreement.

Defence advocate Michael Mudge told the court: ’Ms Fielden is of very young age and has no relevant previous convictions for this type of offence.

’She is assessed as a low-risk of reoffending and low-risk to the public in the social enquiry report.

’She does intend to repay the Treasury.

’She has started her own business to contribute to society and hopes to repay the amount quickly.’

Fielden will repay the benefit at a rate of £10 per week and must complete the 80 hours of community service in the next 12 months.