Addict's pounds 31k benefit fraud; Cash paid for heroin.

Byline: LINDA RICHARDS

A WOMAN fiddled more than pounds 31,000 benefit to fund her heroin addiction.

On various dates between February 1998 and March 2006, Michelle Hall made bogus claims for carers allowance and Income Support for herself, her son and grandmother. Gateshead magistrates heard that over that period, she failed to give the Department of Work and Pensions a true picture of her personal circumstances.

DWP prosecutor Michael Baker said: "In the case of her grandmother, she claimed she was spending 35 hours a week looking after her and was paid carer's allowance on that basis.

"But during interview, she acknowledged, the prosecution would say, that she was not spending as much as that time and probably 50% of care was given her grandmother by her mother."

He said as a result of making false statements for benefit, 44-year-old Hall was overpaid pounds 16,662 carers allowance and pocketed pounds 15,021 Income Support she wasn't entitled to.

Hall, of Westminster Street, Bensham, Gateshead, pleaded guilty to 10 offences of making a false statement to obtain benefit.

Defending, Chris Kyle said Hall had personal problems which she had difficulty coping with.

"She lives in an area of Gateshead where heroin is a problem and she was introduced to heroin," he said.

"When the time came to notify the department of a change of circumstances, the money was being used to buy drugs, because by that time this lady had become an addict."

She became the victim of domestic violence at the hands of her partner, which led to him being jailed.

And problems continued when he came out of prison after serving a four-year sentence.

"Rather than keeping away from him they became a couple again," added Mr Kyle.

"He was a heroin addict and encouraged her to continue claiming benefits and this is what they did to feed their drug problem.

"In March this year, her partner died as a result of an overdose involving heroin and other drugs."

Now Hall, said Mr Kyle, is working very hard to come off drugs.

Magistrates considered sentencing Hall but, due to the sum involved, they declined jurisdiction and committed Hall to Newcastle Crown Court where the case will he heard.

Hall was bailed to a date to be set for the hearing.