Benefit fraud grandmother jailed

Dawn Shackleton pleaded guilty at Newcastle Crown Court

A grandmother who fraudulently claimed £40,000 in benefits has been sentenced to two years in prison.

Dawn Shackleton, claimed income support, housing and council tax benefits in the name of her sister who had emigrated to Kenya.

The 46-year-old, of McDonald Road in Benwell, Newcastle, was also receiving legitimate handouts for her own family.

She had earlier pleaded guilty to five counts of forgery and one of making a false statement.

Newcastle Crown Court heard the Department for Work and Pensions set up an investigation following a tip-off.

Criminal convictions

Shackleton's handwriting and fingerprints were found on various applications supposedly made by her sister, Julie Menzar, who emigrated in 1994.

Ms Menzar was unaware of the scam, which someone else started after she left the country. It was taken over by Shackleton in 2000.

Jeff Taylor, defending, said that when Shackleton's adult children had been in trouble with the law she used the money from the fraud to pay their fines and "keep their heads above the water".

He added: "She is sorry for what occurred and she knows it is now over."

Members of Shackleton's family have more than 230 criminal convictions between them.

In July 2007 they were evicted from their private rented property following a string of complaints about their rowdy behaviour.