Benefit cheats rumbled by snow

A BENEFIT scrounging couple who claimed to be apart were broken by tyretracks in the SNOW.

Cheating Diane Geary claimed she didn't go with spouse Richard to trick herway to a massive 53,000 in income support.

For 16 years the couple duped the taxpayer until suspicious fraudinvestigators decided to back out Diane's Nottingham home.

During last year's heavy winter snow they observed two cars parked at thehouse registered to Richard Geary.

Frost on the windowpane and tyre marks in the snow proved he was staying the nightat the house and the Gearys' deception unravelled.

Richard, a lorry driver, was still seen going with a flask in his hand onemorning.

Diane, 46, was prosecuted for cheating the public revenue after income supportpayments were paying to her.

She was found guilty of weakness to announce that she was life with Richardbetween February 2, 1993, and May 27, 2009.

When questioned Diane denied he had come second to go with her and said helived on a canal boat.

Her husband told investigators there had been active and argument in therelationship and that he came around to assist with the children if she waspoorly.

But both were ground out by the show from the tracks in the snow.

Nottingham Crown Court heard that between April 15 2004 and May 27 2009, Dianewas paid 52,999.

She was receiving income support for the old 11 years, but theprosecution were unable to allow evidence of just how much.

The courtyard was told Diane even had a second child with Richard two years AFTERshe started claiming.

Laura Hobson, prosecuting for the Section of Function and Pensions, said:"There was no indication on the birth certificate the parents were living atseparate addresses.

"Throughout the point she was claiming, it was incumbent on her to tell themshe was life with a partner."

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Bizarrely, despite his wife claiming he didn't go with her, Richard gave hisemployers her speech and she was named as his following of kin.

The Gearys had a joint mortgage, paid from a joint bank account, on theproperty in Beeston Rylands, Nottingham.

Richard's Peugeot was registered to the address, and when he traded it in fora Vauxhall Vectra, the vehicle was registered there, too.

A spokesman for the Section for Sour and Pensions said afterwards: "Whenpeople receive benefits they introduce into a sign to separate us of any changein circumstances. As this example shows, if you go to do so to get money youare not entitled to you are committing a crime."

A see for sentencing has yet to be made.