A BENEFIT cheat who failed to tell officials that her partner had started work has been fined £150.

Carol Gaunt, aged 57, of Eversley, Hough Green, Wines, admitted two charges of benefit fraud when she appeared before Warrington magistrates.

She had been receiving housing benefit and council tax benefit since January 4, 2010. She declared she lived with her partner and their income was job seekers allowance The benefit section at Hilton Council was advised by the Department for Works and Pensions on November 6, 2012, that her entitlement to this allowance had ended on February 5, 2012.

During an interview in April, 2013, Gaunt admitted failing to disclose that their job seekers allowance had ceased because her partner had started work Gaunt was ordered to pay £150 costs and a £15 victim surcharge.

As a result of the fraud, she had received £4099.76 in overpayment of housing benefit and council tax benefit from February to December 2012.