A benefits cheat who falsely told officials that she was a lone parent illegally claimed more than £30,000 over three years.

But at Carlisle's Rickergate magistrates court, a district judge drew back from sending 38-year-old Allison Marie Skelton to jail after hearing that she was in a “turbulent” relationship with her live-in lover Arturs Liepins.

Skelton, of Lovers Lane, Longtown, admitted two allegations of fraud by false representation. The first she committed on January 13, 2012, when she submitted a claim for Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit.

She committed the second offence four days later when she claimed Income Support. On both occasions, she failed to declare that she was living with Mr Liepins.

“She admitted she'd been living together as a married couple with another person,” said prosecutor John Moran. “That means these claims were fraudulent from the outset. The total amount overclaimed was £30,154.”

Steven Marsh, for Skelton, who is the mother of a five-year-old, began her relationship with Mr Liepins in 2011 and they lived together on an on-off basis. "But that became permanent,” said the lawyer.

Describing the relationship as turbulent, Mr Marsh said the police had been called out to her address amid allegations of domestic violence.

But Skelton never wanted to press charges.

After the birth of her daughter, Skelton suffered depression and was under treatment for two years. There was a period when her partner lived away from the house after arguments.

“Matters came to a head in 2015,” said Mr Marsh.

She and her partner had reconciled and he had moved back in. Skelton was about to start looking for work but was heavily involved in supporting her mother because her father suffered from Parkinson's disease.

District Judge Gerald Chalk told the defendant: “This is a large sum of money which you have defrauded from the state. I think this has crossed the custody threshold and the matter should arguably be sent to the crown court.”

However, the judge instead imposed 180 days jail, suspending the term for a year. Skelton must complete 100 hours of unpaid work, pay costs of £85, and a victim surcharge of £115.