Sentencing delay for benefit fraudster who wrongly claimed £18,000

Sharron Ensor (55), of Brett Close in Rawmarsh, pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to claiming £18,462.29 in Employment and Support Allowance between July 2012 and May 2017.

She said that she was living alone when she was actually staying at the home she shared with her husband.

Prosecutor Mr Richard Davies told Sheffield Crown Court on Tuesday: “The defendant claimed benefit as a single woman with no dependants.”

When Ensor was interviewed by investigators in May last year, she said that she was suffering from anxiety and that she did not live with her husband who was “sofa surfing”, but at another interview she admitted they were living together.

Mr Davies said: “She said she did not know why she claimed these benefits.”

The court heard that Ensor had no previous convictions.

But Judge Peter Kelson delayed sentencing in order to find out if Ensor’s home could be sold to pay back the stolen money.

He said: “This is not an easy role. I have to look into this.”

The judge added that he had not yet made a decision on how he would sentence Ensor.

The case was adjourned until December 10.