Her 41 year old partner also admitted three specimen charges of knowingly allowing his partner to produce a document which was known to be false.

Pauline Cronin and Phillip Athersmith, of St Matthews Road, Donnington, dishonestly claimed an amount totalling £38,444.83 over a period of over 10 years and five months in a case brought by Telford & Wrekin Council.

Shrewsbury Crown Court heard that the offences related to Ms Cronin claiming on the basis she was a lone parent – when in fact she had been living together with Mr Athersmith since Christmas 2000. Mr Athersmith’s offences related to the fact that he knew Cronin was making a false claim.

The offences took place between November 2000 and March 2011.

In addition to paying back the overpaid benefit, both defendants were given a community order for 12 months with different requirements.

Ms Cronin was given a supervision requirement for 12 months and a requirement to undertake Care Skills Farm Training Course.

Mr Athersmith was given a supervision requirement for 12 months, an alcohol treatment requirement for six months and 100 hours unpaid work.

The judge did not make any order for costs; he told the defendants that their priority should be the repayment of the benefit and they would therefore have insufficient means to pay costs as well.