A 43-YEAR-OLD Blackburn woman who falsely claimed she was living as a single parent received more than £15,000 in council tax and housing benefit she was not entitled to.

Blackburn magistrates heard that throughout the four-year period Jayne Blackledge's husband was living with her and he was in full-time employment.

Blackledge, 43, of Bethesda Close, pleaded guilty to five charges of making a false statement to obtain benefit. She was given a conditional discharge for two years and ordered to pay compensation of £80 a month for two years.

Chris Moister, prosecuting, said Blackledge had told Town Hall staff that her husband had moved in in April, 2005. But a statement to another agency on December 17, 2004, said her husband had been with her for four or five years.

The discrepancies sparked an investigation and when interviewed Blackledge accepted her husband had moved in in December, 2000.

Sian Hall, defending, said her client deeply regretted what she had done.

"She had lost a baby, lost her job and started to suffer from depression," said Miss Hall. "She tried to carry on with her life regardless. This was an attempt to manage finances on a day-to-day basis rather than funding a lavish lifestyle. She is relieved this has finally come to a head and she can be punished and get on with her life."