A young mother who cheated the taxpayer out of £54,500 in a social security benefits fraud escaped a prison sentence yesterday because she has five children.
Scott Coughtree, prosecuting at Stafford Crown Court, said Tracy Mills (34) claimed income support, council tax and housing benefits for almost six years between December 1997 and June 2003.
She pleaded guilty to eight specimen charges of making false benefit claims without telling the Department of Works and Pensions that she was living with a man as husband and wife.
She was given a 51-week jail sentence suspended for two years.
Judge Nicholas Mitchell told Mills of Wansbeck, Belgrave, Tamworth: "Yours was a thoroughly dishonest course of conduct. There is far too much of this type of benefit fraud.
"These sort of offences normally attract a custodial sentence. The effect it will have on your children is greater for them than you and that is the only thing that will save you from going to prison today."
