A CLEANER on income support was given a conditional discharge by magistrates.
Mother-of-two Ann Ross, 44, pleaded guilty to three charges of making false representations to claim benefit, when she appeared before Teesside magistrates, yesterday, but asked for 150 similar offences to be taken into consideration.
The Bench was told that Ross, of Leeds Street, Middlesbrough, had wrongfully claimed £3,862 in benefit.
Ross, described as struggling to bring up two children on her own was a lady of exemplary character, said defence solicitor Peter Wishlade.
The court was told she had claimed benefit while working as a cleaner - a fact she did not declare to Department of Social Security staff.
She escaped a community service order after magistrates were told she was an insulin dependent diabetic and suffered from arthritis. She was given a conditional discharge for two years.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article