A BENEFIT cheat was overpaid more than �16,000 after failing to tell the authorities she was living with her partner, a court has heard.

A BENEFIT cheat was overpaid more than �16,000 after failing to tell the authorities she was living with her partner, a court has heard.

Jackie Redgrave, 61, had claimed housing benefit and council tax benefit in respect of an address in Great Field, Trimley St Mary, near Felixstowe, on the basis she was living alone, Ipswich Crown Court was told.

However, Stephen Rose, prosecuting said Redgrave accepted that from September 1, 2008, that was not the case and she had been living with her partner in Gosford Way, Felixstowe.

He said that as a result of her failure to notify Suffolk Coastal District Council of her change in circumstances she had received an overpayment of �16,285. Mr Rose said there were currently proceedings in the magistrates’ courts seeking the recovery of the money Redgrave was overpaid.

Redgrave, of Gosford Way, Felixstowe, admitted failing to notify a change in her circumstances and was given a three-month supervision order. Sentencing her, Judge Peter Thompson said the sentence might seem lenient but he felt it was the best way of dealing with her after reading a psychiatric report.