A SINGLE woman claimed more than £10,000 in benefits while she was actually in a civil partnership, a court heard.
Angela Dixon, 31, pleaded guilty at Darlington Magistrates’ Court today (Wednesday, December 17) to dishonestly claiming £11,460 in income support, housing and council tax benefits over a period of nearly two years.
Mother-of-one Dixon, who lived in Durham at the time, continued claiming the benefits after she entered into a civil partnership with her female lover who lived with her and worked as a carer.
In mitigation, the court heard that Dixon, of Richmond Close, Darlington, suffered from mental health problems and had been struggling with debt before her partner helped her sort her finances out.
The court also heard that she was already paying the money back.
Magistrates imposed a two-year conditional discharge and ordered Dixon to pay £150 court costs and £15 victim surcharge.
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