Bride who scrounged £13K in benefits by claiming she was single is caught after posting pictures of ehr New York honeymoon on Facebook
The woman, who was also getting housing benefit, admitted the year-long scam.
A BRIDE who scammed £13,000 in benefits by claiming she was single was caught out after she posted pictures of her and her new husband on their honeymoon.
Jacqueline Blake had declared she was living alone and took benefits in accordance with this, but married second husband George and failed to inform the state she was no longer single.
The 51-year-old's scam was revealed after Blake uploaded photos of herself and her new husband to Facebook enjoying the sights of New York on their honeymoon.
In the pictures she can be seen on a helicopter ride, at the top of the Empire State building, and posing for snaps at iconic places in the city such as Times Square and Central Park.
When her claims were looked into, it was found that Blake, formally of Colne in Lancashire, had been living with George for almost four months before the wedding and carried on the fraudulent scheme after the ceremony in August 2014.
It came out that she had contacted the Department for Work and Pensions wanting to charge her surname to her maiden name following the divorce from her first husband, but did not mention she was due to marry in 48 hours.
Blake, who was also getting housing benefit and employment and support allowance, admitted the year-long scam.
However she claimed that it was oversight rather than deceit.
Mr Robinson told the hearing: "Inquiries did reveal this lady was telling them information she knew was wrong in the build-up to them being married.
"On August 28, the DWP received a letter, saying she wanted to change her name to her maiden name, following her divorce. She made no mention of the fact she was due to be married just two days later.
"The department made inquiries. She had got married on August 30 and whilst making that false declaration had actually gone on holiday to New York.
"The department found out that information on a Facebook page. Clearly, the information given two days earlier was not correct."
The total amount overpaid to her was £12,815.68, of which £8,700 was in ESA.
When Blake was first arrested she denied fraud, but after the DWP had got hold of the marriage certificate, the Facebook posts and the financial agreements linking her and George to the same address, she conceded.
A probation officer who interviewed Blake told the court: "She informed me she is mortified by her actions and her actions were more an oversight, rather than a deceitful way to behave.
"Unfortunately, she failed to notify a change in circumstances. She recognises the dim view the court will take of this behaviour."
The court heard Blake, a former mobile social care worker, was diagnosed with MS in 2007.
Bash Khan, in mitigation for Blake, said: "She accepted responsibility for these offences in interview. She has entered a guilty plea at her first court appearance.
"This wasn't a fraud from outset. For nine years, she has suffered from multiple sclerosis and she has mobility issues. She is of previous good character."
At Burnley magistrates court, Blake who suffers from multiple sclerosis and walked into court with a stick admitted two counts of dishonestly failing to notify a change of circumstances - not informing Pendle Borough Council between May 19, 2014 and May 27, 2015, that she and partner were living together as husband and wife and not notifying the DWP she was sharing a home with him between May 12, 2014 and May 27, 2015.
Blake, now of Bradford, West Yorkshire, was given a 12 month community order with supervision and must pay £85 costs, a £60 victim surcharge and a £40 fine.