A fraudster who cheated the benefits system out of more than £38,000 has avoided jail.

Patricia Gregory, of Hough Close, Rainow, failed to declare to authorities that her husband lived with her, an act she kept up for more than four years.

But fraud detectives discovered that Gregory’s husband had in fact been living with her since the summer of 2009, and had been helping to support her financially.

After being discovered Gregory was handed a 30 week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, by a judge at Chester Crown Court on Friday (March 20). She was also given a supervision order for 12 months.

She had earlier pleaded guilty to dishonestly failing to report a change in her circumstances that she knew would affect her entitlement to Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit and Income Support.

The hearing heard that Gregory, 59, had claimed all three benefits since October 2007 on the basis that she was a single person on a low income.

After the sentencing Steph Cordon, Cheshire East Council’s head of communities, said: “It is a big mistake for fraudsters to think they can get away with claiming benefits they are not entitled to.

“These people risk being prosecuted and ending up with a criminal conviction for a serious offence of dishonesty. We have a zero-tolerance policy towards benefit fraud because we are determined to ensure that the benefits system works for the people who really need help.”

Residents can report people they suspect of benefit fraud anonymously by calling free on the confidential fraud hotline number 0800 389 2787. Alternatively, suspected fraud can be reported through the Council’s website at www.cheshireeast.gov.uk .