Benefit cheat sentenced to curfew

A former Bolsover woman has been handed a community order with a curfew for wrongly claiming £16,268 of benefits.
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Chesterfield magistrates’ court heard how Lydia Handley was subject to an investigation by Bolsover District Council and the Department for Work and Pensions. They discovered Handley had falsely claimed income support, housing benefit and council tax benefit as a lone parent between August 27, 2011, and May 24, 2013, when her working partner and father of her child had been living with her.

Handley, 22, of Newbold Road, Chesterfield, pleaded guilty at Chesterfield magistrates’ court on March 4 to falsely claiming benefits while at an address in Bolsover and two former addresses in Chesterfield. Handley appeared at court on March 6 for sentencing for dishonestly failing to declare a change in circumstances. She was given a community order with a curfew and must repay the money.