Last updated at 12:56, Saturday, 11 August 2012

A woman's wedding photographs helped convict her of benefit fraud after they were posted on the internet.

Billie-Jo Beagley, 29, of Botcherby Avenue, Carlisle, failed to inform the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) about her new marital status and continued claiming housing, council tax and income support benefits.

At Carlisle Magistrates’ Court, she admitted three charges of benefit fraud, committed between May 24 2010 and October 17 2011.

The married mother of three falsely claimed £11,422.

Prosecutor Diane Jackson told magistrates that in 2008 Mrs Beagley, then known as Cochrane, claimed benefits legally, but had failed to inform the DWP when partner Walter Beagley moved in.

Staff found photographs of her wedding at St Cuthbert’s Church in August last year on the internet

Carly Lancaster told magistrates in mitigation that her client was sorry for what she has done. She is paying the money back

Beagley was placed under a community order for eight months and electronically tagged for four months.

First published at 10:53, Saturday, 11 August 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk