South Yorkshire benefit cheat fiddled £24,000 over five and a half years

Michelle Convery’s fraudulent claim for Employment Support Allowance began in February 2014, when she claimed to be single, and was uncovered in October 2019, prosecutor James Baird said on Thursday.

In fact, she was living with her long-term partner, whose bank details were registered at her address.

When interviewed, she said she had difficulty writing, and the forms were filled in by someone else.

The court heard she had “significant learning difficulties” and “limited understanding” of the extent of the fraud, which totalled £24, 126.

Kate Riekstina, mitigating, said: “She wants to repay this money as quickly as possible. Deductions have already been made.”

She said Convery, who has no previous convictions, deserved full credit for her early guilty plea. She is awaiting treatment for epilepsy and suffers from a number of health problems.

Convery, 55, of Athelstane Drive, Thurcroft, Rotherham, pleaded guilty to fraud on December 4.

Recorder Andrew Harris described it as "five years of concentrated dishonesty" and told her: "I find it difficult to accept the initial explanations. It was dishonest from the start. People who dishonestly claim are sapping money from deserving causes.”

But he added: "I have no doubt your remorse is genuine. You have probably had the shock of your life."

He told Convery she would have received a 15 month sentence after a trial and “her feet wouldn't have touched the ground.”

The judge handed her ten months, suspended for two years.

Read the latest cases from Sheffield Crown Court here.

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