FACEBOOK posts were the downfall of a fraudster mum who falsely claimed nearly £30,000 in benefits over half a decade of lies.

When Lisa Curtis started claiming housing, council tax and income support, as far back as 1998, she did so lawfully – as a hard-up single parent.

But when she moved in with her partner Terry Palmer in 2008, she failed to notify the authorities of the change in her circumstances, Durham Crown Court heard today (Friday, June 12).

Over the next five years, Curtis fraudulently claimed about £17,000 in income support, £10,000 in housing benefit and £1,800 in council tax benefit – taking her ill-gotten gains to £28,921.11.

The fraud was finally uncovered due to comments the 34-year-old mother had posted on Facebook.

Curtis was interviewed by the police in December 2013 and initially denied she and Mr Palmer were living together as a couple – claiming he was a lodger at her home.

But, prosecutor Christopher Rose told the court, she owned up to the true nature of the relationship after police showed her the Facebook evidence.

Curtis, of Langdale Place, Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, who pleaded guilty to benefit fraud, sobbed in the dock throughout today’s hearing.

John Turner, mitigating, said she had a respectable background, was ashamed of her crime and was “desperately frightened” of going to prison.

She was helpful, a good neighbour and others trusted her to care for their children, he added.

Her relationship with Mr Palmer had been “erratic and somewhat tempestuous”, Mr Turner said.

Curtis has been paying back the money she claimed fraudulently at £20 a week for the last nine months but still owes around £16,500, the court heard.

Sentencing, Judge Simon Hickey told her: “Defrauding the state affects us all. You had five years of deception.”

He spared her an immediate jail term, sentencing her to nine months in prison, suspended for 18 months; but added: “If you breach my order, you’ll come before me and I’ll lock you up.”

Curtis will be supervised by the probation service for 18 months and must complete 100 hours of unpaid work and pay a £100 surcharge, plus court costs.