A BRIDLINGTON couple who admitted scamming thousands of pounds in a benefit fraud by pretending they were living apart have been warned by a judge they could face jail.
Lawrence Rice, 54, and Barbara Goodwin, 42, had denied falsely claiming a total of more than £83,000 in benefits and faced trial at Hull Crown Court this week, but had pleaded guilty at the last minute when they appeared in court on Monday.
They admitted a string of charges after a Department of Work and Pensions investigation.
Rice of Gypsey Road, Bridlington, admitted two charges of making false statements by claiming to live apart from Goodwin in November 2004 and November 2005.
He claimed an estimated £17,400 in job seekers allowance falsely, said DAP barrister Craig Hassall.
Goodwin pleaded not guilty to four charges of making false statements from November 1992 to August 1998.
She pleaded guilty to seven charges of making false statement for claims when she was living with Rice from 1998 and one of falsely retaining money wrongly credited to her NatWest bank account between 2004 and 2006.
Mr Hassall said: "The defendants accept that they made unlawful claims when they lived together when their second daughter was born.
"The over payments in Barbara Goodwin's case amount to £66,000, Rice had claimed £17,400."
However, Mark Bury, defence barrister for Goodwin, said the amount claimed by her of £66,000 referred to initial charges, four of which she had denied and would need to be re-calculated before she is sentenced.
Judge Peter Morrell told the couple "all sentencing options would be open" and the fact he was giving them bail for reports to be prepared should not mean they would not be going to prison.
The pair will return for sentencing on August 1
After Monday's hearing Richard Johnson, East Riding of Yorkshire Council's sanctions officer, said: 'This was a deliberate and planned fraudulent claim to benefit covering several years.
"This case clearly shows that the East Riding of Yorkshire Council and the Department for Work and Pensions are committed to combating benefit fraud, and that those who choose to fraudulently claim benefit will be prosecuted."
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