A benefit cheat mum who fraudulently claimed almost £100,000 has been evicted from her home.
Cleo Embley, 37, illegally received £94,000 in benefits between 2008 and 2012 and ran into serious rent arrears, which she owed to Hyndburn Homes.
The mum-of-seven was overpaid £94,063 in income support, council tax and housing benefits from Hyndburn council and the Department of Work and Pensions over a four-year period.
During this time she was living with Paul Harwood, the father of her children, at their home on Bridge Street, Rishton.
She was caught out when a DWP investigation revealed Mr Harwood was living at her home and working full time.
She was jailed for 22 weeks by Judge Beverley Lunt at Burnley Crown Court last September after admitting failing to notify the DWP and Hyndburn council of changes affecting her entitlement to income support, council tax benefit and housing benefit.
At the time, Judge Lunt said it was unlikely Embley would ever be able to pay back the money and said any cash she did repay would come from the state.
She added: “You weren’t driven by debt or financial need; you had a partner who was working yet you used taxpayers’ money for this time.”
Embley was evicted on January 29 after Hyndburn Homes obtained a court possession order due to her ‘significant’ rent arrears and illegal benefits claims.
David Perry, enforcement team manager at Hyndburn Homes, said social landlords have an obligation to act where tenants flout the law.
He added: “We need to send a message to those who feel they can commit criminal acts without sanction from their landlord.”
Embley has also been disqualified from applying for a new home through Hyndburn’s choice-based letting system.
Shirley Faragher, from Forbes Solicitors, said the eviction sends a clear message to benefit cheats.
She added: “We hope that this case will deter other tenants from committing this type of offence while living in our client’s properties.”
