A mum-of-three has been spared jail after claiming more than £46,000 in benefits by pretending to be single.
Natalie Walker was paid income support and housing benefits for eight years on the basis she was a single parent with no income.
The Newcastle Chronicle reports that Newcastle Crown Court heard the 28-year-old had a long term partner, who had a job.
On her appearance the Newcastle woman admitted two offences of benefit fraud totalling £46,865.
Prosecutor Nick Lane told the court Walker's offending was exposed after an anonymous tip-off, which sparked an investigation.
Mr Lane said banking and credit agreement accounts proved Walker's partner had been living with her and added: "Correspondence was recovered that showed the pair had been living together, essentially as husband and wife, at the address throughout the life of the claim."
Judge Christopher Prince sentenced mum-of-three Walker, who has never been in trouble before, to 10 months imprisonment, suspended for 18 months.
The judge told her: "The impact of this offending is, of course, against the whole of society.
"We have got a very simple system in this country where those who are earning pay taxes. Those taxes are allocated to those less fortunate than those in employment, for the benefit of themselves and for their families.
"The public has contempt for those who take that public money for their own use when they are not entitled to it.
"Someone contacted the authorities anonymously to inform them what you were doing.
"That perhaps demonstrates the contempt those who are not making false claims have for those who are making false claims."
The court heard Walker may have been entitled to some of the benefit amount if she had told the truth.
Jonathan Pigford, defending, said Walker was still a teenager when she made her first benefit claim and has grown up to provide positive support to her young family.
Mr Pigford added: "There is no evidence of lavish lifestyle.
"She has taken full responsibility for her behaviour. There is genuine remorse on her part."
The court heard Walker has entered an agreement to pay back the full amount that she was overpaid.
