A BENEFITS cheat couple who lied about being single were exposed by their own loved-up holiday snaps.
Alan Forsythe, 37, and his wife Jemma, 36, spun a 36-month web of lies to dupe the Department of Work and Pensions.
The couple were living together in a family home in with their two children and Jemma’s two kids from a previous relationship but claimed they were single parents.
Between 2019 and 2023, the pair scrounged a total of £52,190.18 from the DWP, Preston Crown heard.
But they were caught out after posting a series of photos of themselves on a family holiday on social media.
The DWP made further inquiries after noticing the loved-up snaps and began to delve into the couple’s bank statements.
Both Alan and Jemma were invited to attend interviews at the Jobcentre but they continued to lie about not being together.
The pair eventually owned up to their deceit and pleaded guilty to fraud.
Alan, who is currently serving a four-year sentence over a brutal attack that left a man with life-changing injuries, was handed a further 15 weeks in jail.
But Jemma avoided and was instead handed a suspended sentence to protect her four children.
The court was told Alan was awarded he was not entitled to while claiming he was living alone in February 2019.
He continued to scrounge until October 2019 but closed the claim before signing on again in January 2022.
This time he claimed to be a single dad to a child who was living with him – swindling £3,182.27 in total.
Jemma used her maiden name to make a claim in June 2020 – telling the DWP she was a single parent.
She claimed she was living alone with her four children but failed to report Alan was living at the home and working full time.
The mum continued the lie until June 2023 – fraudulently claiming £49,007.91.
Both parents signed a declaration stating the information they had provided was true and confirming they would inform the DWP of any changes in circumstances.
The DWP launched an investigation and discovered social media posts where the pair presented themselves as a married couple.
Sentencing, Recorder Ayesha Siddiqi said: “You were both involved in providing false information to the DWP which affected the you were entitled to. You were a married couple and resided together in your family home.
“At the time you made these claims you signed declarations but you were not providing accurate information. You were taking from the public purse.
“Just because money is public money does not make this any less serious.”;
