Thurnscoe benefits cheat jailed

Ann Marie Hanson (49), of Windsor Street, Thurnscoe, was locked up for eight weeks by magistrates sitting in Barnsley after admitting failing to tell Barnsley Council her son was living with her.

Instead, she continued to claim benefits as if she lived alone, wrongly receiving £2,303 in housing benefit and £131 in council tax benefit between October 2012 and July 2014,

The court heard she had a previous conviction in 2010 for benefit fraud which had resulted in overpayment by the council and the Department for Work and Pensions.

A Barnsley Council spokeswoman said: “Ann Marie Hanson’s previous conviction ought to have caused and prompted her to report any further changes in circumstances.

“We would urge anyone who is tempted to cheat the system to stop and consider the consequences of prosecution.”