A BENEFITS cheat who raked in more than £20,000 pretending to be a single mother has walked free from court.

Faye Allen collected Income Support for almost five years while living as husband and wife with her partner.

Teesside Crown Court heard how the 28-year-old failed to tell the authorities when the man moved in with her.

Allen, of Benridge Close, Middlesbrough, was today ordered to carry out 250 hours of unpaid work for the community.

Prosecutor Sam Faulks said Allen was interviewed three times before she accepted there had been an Income Support overpayment of £20,516.

She admitted having financial support from her partner, and the benefits were being paid into an account where they were “being allowed to build up”.

Mr Faulks said Allen had been claiming legitimately before January 2011, but had failed to disclose in later assessments that her boyfriend had moved in.

Judge Simon Phillips, QC, heard how she was of positive good character and read seven references from associates, where she was described as “a good mother and a trustworthy and reliable person”.

“The offence to which you have pleaded guilty is considered by each of those as something of a transgression,” he said. “They refer to the difficulties you have experienced in what is described as a rocky on on-off relationship.”

Julian Gaskin, mitigating, said: “This has been a salutary lesson for someone who has acted out of character. She is desperate to make amends and is ashamed of what she has done. She wants to make amends to the community.

“She is not likely to come back before the courts. She buried her head in the sand, somewhat, amid a difficult relationship.”

The court heard how Allen, who admitted failing to notify a change in circumstances, has started paying back the money.

The judge said: “You have never been in this situation before in the sense of appearing before the court. I have read a good deal about you both in the pre-sentence report and in the large number of character references.

“The thrust of those references is that it comes as a great surprise to any of those people that you find yourself in this situation. You are someone who has commanded the respect of a large number of people over many years.”

The judge said the offending was “over an extensive period” but changed his mind about imposing a suspended prison sentence.