A MOTHER-OF-THREE who fraudulently claimed more than £33,000 in benefits escaped jail after being given a suspended sentence.

Armanie Heatley previously pleaded guilty to two counts of dishonestly making a false statement and two counts of benefit fraud between 2009 and 2011.

The 42-year-old, of Mackenzie Avenue, Milton Heights, near Didcot, was ordered to serve 60 hours unpaid work and was given a 24-week suspended sentence.

Prosecutor Duncan Milne told Oxford Crown Court on Thursday Heatley claimed £33,109.97 from the Department for Work and Pensions and Vale of White Horse District Council between 2009 and 2013.

He said the unemployed mother, who has lived at her home address since 1997, claimed income support as a single parent in September 2009, after stating she had separated from her husband the month before.

But Mr Milne said Heatley “failed to confirm she was living with her husband as husband and wife” in November 2009 after making a council tax claim to Vale of White Horse District Council.

And he said when police officers searched the property, her husband’s clothing was found in the bedroom, as well as personal items including a toothbrush.

Mr Milne told the court Heatley was also receiving benefits after making a single person discount claim in 2011.

He added: “It was quite clear that they were residing as a family throughout.

“The claim was fraudulent from the outset, committed over four years, a lengthy period of time.”

Defence barrister Jenny Slone said Heatley, who married her husband in 2005, had been in a “very difficult relationship from the outset involving numerous incidents of domestic violence”.

She told the court Heatley, who has a disabled daughter, was “fearful” of her partner and felt unable to approach the council about her situation.

Recorder Simon Blackford said the council and Department for Work and Pensions had lost a “considerable amount of money”.

He added that by committing the offence that could have resulted in a prison sentence Heatley was gambling with her daughter’s welfare.

“It’s quite clear to me that if she was deprived of her mother, it would be very difficult for her,” Recorder Blackford added.

Heatley, who is currently re-paying £19.91 per week from her existing benefits, was also ordered to pay a £200 costs.

Following the hearing leader of Vale of White Horse District Council Matthew Barber said: “We have always been at the forefront of rooting out the benefit cheats and will not hesitate to prosecute someone if we believe they are playing the system. In the last year we have sanctioned 34 people and prevented £329,000 of taxpayers’ money from being unlawfully claimed by benefit fraudsters.”