A WEEPING mother of two has been spared an immediate jail sentence for a £20,885 benefit fraud.
Naomi Tennant, 23, of Hall Avenue, Sutton-in-Craven, Keighley, was sentenced at Bradford Crown Court yesterday for ten admitted offences of falsely claiming Income Support, Housing Benefit and Working Child Tax Credit over 18 months.
Her claims were fraudulent from the outset because she was living with her partner, a serviceman who was posted overseas, prosecutor Mark Brookes said.
Tennant’s barrister, Robin Frieze, said she was in debt and struggling to cope emotionally. She was very remorseful and extremely fearful of going to prison.
Judge Neil Davey sentenced Tennant to ten months imprisonment, suspended for 12 months, with 100 hours of unpaid work and a probation service activity requirement.
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