A WOMAN who committed more than £46,000 of benefit fraud was jailed yesterday.

Margaret Hall claimed on the basis she had no partner living with her, while she was actually living with her partner Melvyn Price.

She was sentenced for six months in prison at Newport Crown Court for dishonestly claiming income support, housing benefit and council tax benefit between 2004 and 2009.

She was paid £46,197 in benefits during that time.

Hall, 59, from Elgar Avenue, Newport, had previously pleaded guilty to dishonestly failing to notify a change of circumstances and dishonestly making a false statement of representation.

Chris Jowett, prosecuting, said Hall has received benefits from the 1990s, claiming she had no partner living with her and no income.

However documentary evidence showed Mr Price, who received an income from the Territorial Army and a food company, living at the address from 2004.

Investigators discovered a joint bank account and AA membership and a car insurance policy linking Mr Price to the address.

Despite this, during that time Hall failed to highlight that she was now living with her partner on two benefits forms she completed.

Mr Jowett said Hall was brought in for interview at the offices of Newport City Council in 2009 and denied that she lived with Mr Price.

However she later pleaded the guilty to all charges against her. Mr Jowett said Hall had already started a repayment plan, paying back £66.40 a month.

Her defence barrister David Martin said Hall has suffered ill-health and appealed for any jail sentence to be suspended.

“She’s full of remorse for what she has done. She accepts full responsibility. There are no excuses,” he said.

But Judge David Morris said he could not suspend the jail sentence he gave to Hall.

“Everyone needs to know that those that deliberately cheat the public benefit system in this country must be seen to be properly punished,” he said.