Benefits cheat claiming to be single mum caught out after posting on Facebook she was married mother-of-three
Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 1:45 PM on 17th August 2010
A foolish benefits cheat who claimed to be a single parent living alone was caught out after revealing on Facebook she had a husband and three children.
Greedy Kim Stokes, 36, told the Department of Work and Pensions that she been a lone parent, unemployed and separated from her husband, a court heard.
But after fraud investigators found items on Facebook showing Kim, her husband Richard, and their children involved in family activities, the shameless cheat was hauled before the courts.
Social not working: Kim Stokes's Facebook profile included pictures of her family and her husband Richard, and a personal description declaring: 'I've been with my hubby for 16 years and we're still very much in love.'
Evidence against her taken from the social networking site included pictures of a birthday cake that was made by Kim for her husband, family holiday snaps and even anniversary messages.
And in her 'about me' section she stated: 'I've been with my hubby for 16 years and we're still very much in love.'
While Richard's Facebook page proudly declared: 'I am a loving, caring dad, I live in Telford and I am married to my soul mate Kim'.
Trouble and strife: Kim Stokes also posted pictures of her husband Richard on Facebook
Stokes had been overpaid by about $15,000 in housing and council tax benefits as well as income support over the last two years, Telford Magistrates heard.
Deputy District Judge David Stott gave Stokes, from Telford, Shropshire, a 12-month community order.
She was also ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work and pay $100 in costs.
She admitted two charges of failing to notify changes in her circumstances to the DWP between May, 2007 and October, 2009.
Miss Catherine Thomas, prosecuting, said Stokes had told the DWP she was a lone parent, unemployed and separated from her husband, Richard.
However, they were living together and had jointly applied for a loan and in November 2007 they purchased a car with a joint credit application, using the same address which indicated joint financial status.
Other evidence obtained showed that Richard and Kim were living as a couple after the family home was listed as Richard's place of residence.
Mr Sheikel Ahmed, defending, said the couple had been apart, but he later started regularly stopping and she should have told the DWP.
Today Stokes said from her smart semi-detached house three miles from Telford town centre: 'It's been dealt with and I have got nothing else to say about it.'
But one neighbour, who did not wish to be named, said: 'The husband drives a nice Renault Scenic people carrier, they certainly don't seem to be struggling for money and although I only know them to say hello, they seem a close and happy family - which is unsurprising really, if they have been fiddling benefits.
'The have two girls under 13 and a lad who is about 16 or 17-year-old.'
Stokes has since closed down her Facebook page but still lists herself on Friends Reunited as being married with three children.
Also under the 'about me' section - she reveals: 'I've been with my hubby for over 16 years we have three brilliant children together. I want to go to college and possibly train as a hairdresser or a teacher.'
DWP West Midlands Fraud Manager, Mark Pickering said: 'If you commit benefit theft, don't expect to get away with it. Our investigators are equipped with a wide range of powers and techniques to track you down.
'We are catching more and more of those who steal money intended for vulnerable people, and when we track them down they face heavy penalties.'
LINK TO PHOTOS
April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008