Benefit cheat dodges jail despite lying for years to pocket nearly £40,000 from the public purse

A benefits cheat who lied for more than six years has been spared jail, despite pocketing nearly £40,000 from the public purse.

Eleanor Chadder, from Hayle in Cornwall, was convicted of dishonestly failing to notify the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) she was living together as a married couple while she claimed Employment Support Allowance.

Chadder, 40, has repaid just £1,700 so far, and has now been ordered to repay the outstanding amount plus £1,800 towards costs.

This will be paid at a rate of £100 a month, Truro Crown Court heard.

Recorder Richard Paige sentenced Chadder, a youth worker, to four months in jail, suspended for 18 months, for what he called "sustained dishonesty over six years", according to Cornwall Live.

Chadder has physical and mental health conditions and is considered to be at low risk of offending.

Mr Ramsay Quaife, defence barrister, said her conviction had brought "shame and embarrassment".

The news follows analysis that overseas benefits fraudsters alone were costing British taxpayers a staggering £4.3million every week.

Overseas fraud by benefits claimants living in popular holiday destinations drained £226milion from the public purse in the 12 months leading up to March.

Universal Credit fraud accounted for £103million of the total lost income.

While Pensions Credit fraud by claimants living abroad was responsible for a further £67million in losses.

Fraudulent Housing Benefit claims made up £29million, while £27million came from bogus Personal Independence Payment handouts.

A DWP spokesman said: "We're determined to crack down on fraud. Our latest figures show us fraud and error has fallen by a quarter since its 2022 peak. We will leave no stone unturned."

Analysis in June also revealed the number of benefits fraudsters facing criminal proceedings had fallen by more than 90 per cent since 2017.

Convictions also dropped 94 per cent over the same period, analysis by The Telegraph revealed.

Just 283 people received sentences for their crimes, down from close to 4,000 nine years ago.

The Prime Minister has previously said he hopes to decrease the benefits bill - though may face a rebellion from Labour's restless backbenchers if he tries.

Sir Iain Duncan-Smith, the architect of Universal Credit - the most abused benefit - said the legal system should be making an example of benefit cheats in the courts.

The former Work and Pensions Secretary said: "They should be keeping up with individual prosecutions to send a message to the public that fraudsters will be caught."