A RUNCORN mum swindled almost £11,000 in benefits after failing to declare she was living with her husband, who was working.

Katy Carmon, aged 31, of Petersgate, Murdishaw, admitted three offences of benefit fraud when she appeared at Runcorn Magistrates Court.

She was sentenced to eight weeks imprisonment, suspended for one year, put on an eight week curfew from 7pm to 7am, and ordered to pay £150 costs.

In November, 2009, Carmon made applied for housing benefit, council tax benefit and income Sspport for an address in Grangemoor, Runcorn.

She declared that she was living alone as a single parent with one dependent child, and that her ex-partner had moved into his mother’s.

In July, 2010, Carmon made a new application for benefits for a different address in Grangeway.

In April, 2011, she notified the council that her job seeker’s allowance had stopped because she had started work. Her claim for housing benefit and council tax benefit was re-assessed on her earnings and tax credits.

Her benefit claim was suspended in August because she had failed to provide proof of her earnings.

It was re-instated after she went into Halton Direct Link offices with her ex-partner the folliwing month with her wage slips.

A month later, a council officer visited to verify who was living at her home, A man believed to be her husband was decorating. Carmon insisted she lived there alone with her daughter only and her husband lived with his mother. The case was referred to the benefit investigation unit.

When Carmon was interviewed, she said her husband was staying with friends.

She later admitted that he had been living with her since the start of her benefit claim in November, 2009.

Due to the fraud, Carmon received a benefit overpayment of £10, 977.66.