Louise Stuart admitted stealing £85,854 in benefits over eight years by hiding her relationship, but got her jail time suspended due to health and repayment impracticality.

Louise Stuart, 60, a former care worker from Maryport, admitted to illegally claiming £85,854 in benefits over eight years by not reporting her relationship with partner Russel Harrison, who was also convicted of fraud. The DWP found she lived with him, shared holiday photos, and falsely claimed to be single and without income, enabling her to receive Employment Support Allowance and housing benefit. Though she cited financial hardship and mental health struggles including PTSD and depression, the judge suspended her 11-month jail sentence due to her rehabilitation prospects and the impracticality of repaying the debt—estimated at 141 years at £50 monthly—along with the high cost of incarceration. She was given an 18-month curfew and allowed to return home after collapsing in court.