Blackpool teaching assistant convicted of £24,000 benefit fraud was "trying to keep a roof over son's head"

Rebecca Fox, of Lindsay Court, St Annes admitted cheating Fylde Council out of Housing Benefit and defrauding the Department of Work and Pensions out of Employment Support Allowance.

She was charged with dishonest failure to tell the two authorities about a change in her circumstances after her working hours had increased.

Blackpool Magistrates heard how the former teaching assistant, who worked at Armfield Academy, was no longer eligible for the benefits after she was promoted to a full time position and awarded a pay rise.

She told the court she completed an online check about her new income on the DWP website and realised her improved salary meant she was no longer entitled to the benefits.

She admitted two offences of failing to tell the authorities about her change in circumstances over a three year period, which led to an illegal overpayment of £23,600.

The court heard Fox started working at the Academy as a part-time cleaner while the school supported her through qualification gathering. She was later promoted to a full-time position as a teaching assistant.

Her lawyer Brett Chappell said that it was his client’s first offence and money was being paid back.

"She wrongly continued to claim so she could keep a roof over her son's head,” he said in her defence. “That is the rationale behind this offence."

Bench chairman Nigel Kilgallon told Fox: “These are serious offences. There was a high level of fraud which took place even after you did online checks.”

The court sentenced her to 16 weeks in prison, suspended for a year. She was also given a rehabilitation punishment.