A FORMER benefit fraud investigator has been jailed for swindling nearly £20,000 in benefits while living with a police officer.

Rachel Wilce, 33, of Lansdown Road, Faringdon, admitted three charges of failing to inform Vale of White Horse District Council of a change of circumstances when her partner moved in with her, Oxford Crown Court heard on Monday.

She had cheated the council out of income support of £10,410, council tax benefit of £6,883 and housing benefit of £1,930, over two years, the court heard.

Neil Petersen, prosecuting, said Wilce had claimed benefits since November 18, 2002.

He said she did not tell the council when her policeman partner, whose name was given as Mr Hart, moved in with her in April 2003.

He said: "She was interviewed by investigators on May 12, 2005 and in the course of that broke down in tears.

"She admitted Mr Hart was living with her. She had not notified them of a change in circumstances.

"She appeared at Didcot Magistrates' Court on April 25 this year, when she pleaded guilty."

Graeme Logan, defending, said: "It would appear that this claim started out as a genuine one.

"There is no suggestion this money was to fund an extravagant lifestyle."

He said Wilce, who had previously worked for West Oxfordshire District Council as a benefit fraud liaison officer for three years from December 1997 until December 2000, had suffered depression and had been unemployed.

He said: "What happened resulted in her daughter, who was 11, leaving the family home, and she (Wilce) buried her head in the sand."

He said there had been discussions between Vale of White Horse District Council and Wilce about repaying the money.

Judge David Morton Jack told Wilce: "These offences were so serious that only custody can be justified.

"Over a period of more than two years you deliberately concealed from the authorities that you were living with a man in work, in relation to three separate benefits.

"You had yourself for some years worked in a housing benefits office in the fraud department.

"You knew exactly what you were doing and this is not a case of your head being in the sand. On the other hand you are a woman of 33, of perfectly good character to date. I take into account two references from your last employers and I take into account that the original claims were genuine, although shortly afterwards they became fraudulent."

He sentenced Wilce to eight months in jail and added: "I make no financial orders as you have not the means to fulfil them."

Nikki Malin, Vale of White Horse spokesman, said the council tax benefit was being repaid through deductions from Wilce's partner's salary.

She said the council would arrange for Wilce to pay back the housing benefit and if that failed, it would take her to the county court.

She said income support repayments were a matter for the Department for Work and Pensions.