A MOTHER who fraudulently claimed almost £40,000 in benefits didn’t enjoy a lavish lifestyle, a court was told.

Lisa Hutchinson, of Scafell Gardens, Crook, claimed the extra benefits that she wasn’t entitled to over a six year period, from 2007 and 2012.

Catherine Burgess, prosecuting on behalf of Durham County Council, said Hutchinson claimed she was living alone, when in fact she was living with her partner.

“She has made some arrangements to pay the money back and it was not fraudulent from the start,” she said.

Tracey Kyle, mitigating, said: “She was entitled to claim when she made the initial application, however when her partner moved in she did not declare it and kept on with the lie for some time.

“It did not fund any kind of lavish lifestyle at all. She paid all of the bills and bought anything her children needed, and her partner funded the drugs and alcohol.

“She said she could have walked away, but she didn’t and she takes full responsibility.”

Hutchinson, 30, pleaded guilty to failing to declare that her circumstances had changed and two counts of producing a false statement to obtain benefits.

She was sentenced to 26 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months, and ordered to pay £100 court costs and a victim surcharge of £80 at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates Court.