A BENEFITS cheat who dishonestly claimed £22,000 while living a life of luxury said today that no amount of money could buy happiness.

Gillian Devonport, 40, of Hillam, near Selby, is still trying to come to terms with the death of her husband Stephen, 46, who committed suicide in January by gassing himself in his car.

Gillian Devonport was given a suspended jail sentence at Leeds Crown Court earlier this month after admitting six offences of benefit fraud. The judge described the case as "cynical greed."

The couple, who lived in a £300,000 farmhouse at Hillam, claimed Job Seekers' Allowance, council tax benefit and mortgage interest relief over two years while running two jewellery shops and enjoying holidays abroad.

The court also heard how Gillian Devonport held a Harvey Nichols store card, was a member of an exclusive gym, and drove a £40,000 Mercedes SLK sports car.

Speaking for the first time since the court case, Mrs Devonport told the Evening Press: "I have come across as a wicked witch, but it was more a case of being stupid and nave than greedy.

"I got used to having nice things and you lose sight of reality. I should have got my priorities in life right.

"You can't buy happiness, and I can honestly say me and Stephen were a lot happier in our little semi-detached at Sherburn-in-Elmet than we ever were here at Hillam.

"It's the first dishonest thing I've done in my life and to say it was the biggest mistake of my life is an understatement."

Mrs Devonport, whose home is now up for sale, added: "I just wish I could turn the clock back. For Stephen to lose his life over fraudulent benefit claims is a complete waste and so unnecessary.

"He was a loveable rogue who was under a lot of pressure from other things, but I'm sure it was the mess over the benefits that tipped him over the edge.

"It goes without saying I would sooner have gone to prison rather than Stephen not being here."

Mrs Devonport said everything started to go wrong after they had been the victims of an armed robbery six years ago. The robbers held them at gunpoint and tied them up before escaping with a substantial amount of jewellery. Shortly afterwards their double-glazing business went bust.

Mrs Devonport added: "I don't want to make excuses. I knew what I was doing wasn't right, and a lot of people are a lot worse off than we were.

"We shouldn't have tried to hang on to material possessions - we should have settled for health and happiness."

Mrs Devonport said she intended to pay all the money back to the DSS out of the proceeds of her house sale - and then lead a quiet life in her new job at an insurance brokers, living in a small flat in Leeds.

She said: "I take comfort from the people who genuinely know me for what I am, and that's what matters, not the people gossiping down the road."

selby@ycp.co.uk