Mum in £18,000 benefits swindle (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Mum in £18,000 benefits swindle

Michelle Nunn Picture Ref: 99146-83A MUM has admitted swindling more than £18,000 in false benefits.

Michelle Nunn, 30, of Trentham Close, Park South, pleaded guilty to falsely obtaining tax credit at Swindon magistrates' court yesterday.

The court heard Nunn had continually lied to get £18,300 of money she was not entitled to over a two-year period.

Prosecuting, David Bannocks said Nunn, who wept throughout the hearing, had deliberately cheated on a tax credit application form.

Nunn claimed she was a single mum of two and was paying childcare costs.

But after a tip-off the Inland Revenue discovered she was overstating the amount she was paying for childcare.

She had also started working more than the 16 hours a week she claimed to.

A subsequent investigation revealed Nunn had not told the Inland Revenue about changes in her circumstances.

She filled in forms and left out important information that she had moved in with her boyfriend and then got married.

She had moved in with Colin Nunn in August 2003 but in May 2004 she signed a form under the name Michelle Lane saying she was still a single mum living with just her two children.

Mr Bannocks said: "The situation is that Nunn has cheated on a tax credit application form.

"In interview Nunn said 'People get used to having a certain amount of money in the house.'

"She was hoping the Inland Revenue would not find out about her living with her partner and her marriage."

Mr Bannocks added that Nunn's claims that she had written to the tax credit helpline had been proved false.

Defending, Tony Nowogrodski said his client, who works the night shift at a local supermarket, had not set out to con the taxman.

He said: "She is 30 years of age and this is the first time she has been in court.

"She was a single parent of children aged 11 and five.

"When her partner left she made a claim that was a valid one.

"Unfortunately, things escalated and she didn't report things to the Inland Revenue.

"She became married and it became more and more difficult.

"It takes a brave person to come back to the Inland Revenue and say 'Look, I have been working.'"

Mr Nowogrodski added that all the money claimed had been spent on family essentials.

The case was adjourned to September 21. Nunn was given unconditional bail.

Gareth Bethell