Pamela Hart from Sherburn-in-Elmet has pleaded guilty to fraudulently claiming more than £1,300 in housing and council tax benefit from Selby District Council.

Pamela Hart, 54, of Beechwood Croft, failed to tell the council that she was living with Sean Reilly.

This resulted in a housing benefit overpayment of £1,295.23 and a council tax benefit overpayment of £14.57. Kelly Hamblin, prosecuting, said Hart had admitted she and Mr Reilly had been a couple for five or six years prior to separating in March 2009, although their relationship was of an “off and on” nature.

Hart had also admitted that Mr Reilly would stay at her property between two and four nights a week, that he paid some of her household bills and that his wages were paid into her bank account. In mitigation the court was told that Hart had met Mr Reilly six years ago when he was married.

She hoped that he would come and live with her full-time, but it never happened.

Selby magistrates gave Hart a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered her to pay £200 prosecution costs on top of repaying the benefit overpayment.