HUSBAND and wife Dennis and June Smith were overpaid more than £7,000 in benefits during a 14-month period when she was working as a packer.
Blackburn magistrates heard that Smith was earning up to £143 a week while her husband was claiming income support for him and their three children and she was claiming incapacity benefit.
Dennis Smith, 42, and June Smith, 44, of Kelsall Avenue, Blackburn, each pleaded guilty to three offences of making a false statement to obtain benefit. They were each given a conditional discharge for 12 months and ordered to pay £50 costs. Michael Singleton, prosecuting, said the Department of Wages and Pensions would make its own arrangements for recovery of the overpayment.
Liz Parker, defending, said there had been a degree of naivety in the offences.
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 The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.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