Our thanks to Jeff for this. Extracts:

“In all, she collected a total of £14,742.56 in benefits she did not qualify for – and sought to blame social workers.

Hunt broke down in tears as she was sentenced to 12 weeks suspended for 12 months at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court on Friday (January 30). She had been tried and convicted in her absence…

Peter Ricketts, defending, stated she was a victim of long-term domestic violence [J4MB: alleged victim, we assume – she lost custody of her children, presumably to her partner.] as well as had a number of mental health and learning difficulties which impacted her ability to understand paperwork and procedures… [J4MB translation: She’s a woman, what can you do?]

He [J4MB: Her solicitor] further submitted that Hunt did not deliberately lie to the DWP [J4MB: No, she just didn’t tell them the truth, a totally different matter!] and confirmed she had never previously committed a crime.

Hunt was ordered to carry out 20 days of rehabilitation activity and pay a £154 victim surcharge.

The Chair of the Bench said: ‘We have thought long and hard about this today. We are not going to lecture you, you know what you did was wrong.

‘We are going to suspend the prison sentence. Keep your nose clean, keep out of trouble and you won’t go to prison.’ “

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