A BENEFITS cheat mum who pretended to be a hard-up lone parent and claimed more than £53,000 in benefits has been ordered has escaped jail.

Amanda Haynes, 46, formerly of Haslemere Way, Crewe, failed to declare that her partner, who had a well-paid job, joined the household in 2009.

She carried on claiming benefits fraudulently for more than five years, receiving £14,038 in Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit, £10,430 in Employment and Support Allowance and £28,718 in Tax Credits.

Haynes pleaded guilty to four counts of failing to disclose information that she knew would affect her entitlement.

On May 15, judge at Chester Crown Court sentenced Haynes to six months imprisonment, suspended for two years, and ordered her to complete 100 hours unpaid work.

He also slapped her with a three-month curfew from 9pm to 6am and ordered her to complete 12 months’ supervision.

She will have to repay every penny of the £53,186.49 she fraudulently obtained from Cheshire East Council, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs.

She was also ordered o pay £500 costs.

Steph Cordon, Cheshire East Council’s head of communities, said: “It is a big mistake for fraudsters to think they can get away with claiming benefits they are not entitled to.

“They risk ending up with a criminal conviction for a serious offence of dishonesty and being ordered to repay the money they have falsely claimed.

“We have a zero-tolerance policy towards benefit fraud because we are determined to ensure that the benefits system works for people who really need help.”

Haynes’ fraud was uncovered after a robust and detailed investigation conducted by investigators from Cheshire East Council’s benefit fraud investigation team and the DWP.

Residents can report people they suspect of benefit fraud by calling free on the confidential fraud hotline number 0800 389 2787.

There is no need to give a name and calls are treated in the strictest confidence.