A COUPLE from Hereford have admitted their part in a £64,000 benefits fiddle.

Graham Davies, aged 54, and Maria Thomas, aged 55, were given suspended sentences after pleading guilty to offences of failing to notify the authorities of a change in circumstances over their occupancy of a flat in Blakemore Close, Newton Farm.

Prosecutor Kevin Donnelly told Worcester Crown Court that Davies claimed housing benefit and council tax benefit in respect of the flat, owned by Thomas. He also claimed income support.

The pair, who had no romantic association, cohabited the flat and Thomas paid the bills for water, TV licence and the mortgage.

It had been calculated that Davies was paid £20,103 in income support. With housing benefit and council tax, the pair’s total bill for benefits was £64,255.

Mark Thompson, mitigating, said Thomas had a fulltime job as a carer.

Davies was also a carer for his mother. The case had been hanging over them for two and a half years and they had started to repay some of the money.

Recorder Anthony Lowe said the pair had systematically claimed benefits of £64,000 and he felt the public could rightly be outraged.

The public purse had been deprived, but he was suspending the 12-month sentences for two years.

Thomas must do 180 hours unpaid work while Davies was told to carry out 240 hours.

He ordered each of them to pay £3,250 costs.