A BENEFIT cheat has pleaded guilty to fraud after she was found to have illegally claimed more than £6,000.
Patricia Buckwell, aged 50, of Wallis Park, Northfleet, claimed £3,138 in income support, £2,467 in housing benefit and £892 in council tax benefit she was not entitled to.
Gravesham Council and the Department for Work and Pensions began investigating Buckwell after she submitted a benefit claim form containing her partner’s details but at a later date claimed he had not moved in.
Her partner lived in the family home at weekends but worked away in the week.
Maidstone Crown Court heard how Buckwell felt she had been punished already because she was no longer receiving housing benefit and had to pay her rent on her own.
She will be sentenced on September 1.
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