Halesowen mum-of-four cheats benefits system out of more than £50k

Sep 29 2010 by Emma McKinney, Birmingham Mail

A MIDLAND mum-of-four wept in court as she was handed a suspended prison sentence for cheating more than £51,000 out of the benefits system.

Sharon Kane, of Hagley Road, Halesowen, pleaded guilty to four charges in relation to the scam at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court.

The court heard that the 39-year-old landlady of the Rose and Crown pub in Halesowen received thousands of pounds in benefits she was not entitled to between 2003 and 2008 by claiming she was a single mum, when in fact she was living with Dean Knock, her partner and the father of her children.

Kane also claimed she was unemployed throughout the five-year period.

Yet benefit fraud investigators found she had worked for several companies, including an exhibition firm, a newspaper company and a supermarket, said Emma Hall, prosecuting on behalf of Birmingham City Council.