A BENEFIT cheat who failed to disclose her partner was living with her and working, has been electronically tagged by Runcorn magistrates.

Single mum Cheryl Cross, aged 23, of Greenway Road, Widnes, was sentenced to a six month curfew from 7pm to 7am and ordered to pay £204 costs when she appeared in court on January 29.

She applied for housing and council tax benefit for at an address in Allerton Road, in March, 2010, claiming she was a lone parent and her only income was employment support allowance.

The benefit investigation unit received an anonymous call in October, 2011, alleging that two adults were living in the property.

Cross moved to Greenway Road in May, 2012, declaring she was a single mum on employment support allowance.

Weeks later, she admitted that her partner had been living with her since May, 2010, but that she failed to declare him due to financial difficulties.

Cross received a benefit overpayment of £9,591.