A MOTHER who said she was caring for her children alone to claim nearly £47,000 in benefits has been jailed.
For more than seven years, Sandra Fitzsimmons told the authorities she was a single parent to daughters, aged 13 and 15. Liverpool Crown Court heard her husband, John, was actually living at the family home. Fitzsimmons, 43, was overpaid a total of £46,956 in income support and council tax benefit.
Fitzsimmons, of Watford Road, Kirkdale, admitted two counts of failing to give prompt notification of a change of circumstances and was jailed for four months.
Geoffrey Lowe, defending, said the couple’s relationship had been very on-off.
