A married woman falsely claimed nearly £80,000 by keeping her husband secretly hidden in her house – for 17 years.

Janet Pritchard, 54, pretended to be a single mum to claim state benefits from 1998 until 2015.

But for the entire time she was living with her husband David at home with their kids. Prosecutor Steven Donoghue said: ‘She claimed to be living as a single parent with children, but she was living with her husband all the time, reports the Metro.

‘These were different types of benefits, including council tax benefits and child tax credits. She was caught, rather than stopping herself.

‘Among various items found in the house were a joint bank account, a Sky account and gas and electricity accounts.

There was also a loan agreement being paid from a joint account. ‘She said that throughout this period she accepted that her husband had been parking his vehicle outside and sleeping in the house, for the sake of the children.

‘She was preparing his meals and washing his clothes but she did not believe that amounted to him living there.’ Newport Crown Court heard that the total figure falsely claimed was £79,865.25.

Pritchard, of Tredegar, Gwent, admitted fraud. But she avoided jail because she had remortgaged her house – and raised £7,000 to start paying the money back.

Terror plot to 'murder Theresa May in Downing Street' thwarted She was handed a suspended sentence of a year and three months. Recorder Christopher Clee QC said: ‘You maintained you had done nothing wrong, which led to extensive inquiries that proved the case against you. ‘I hope you continue to repay these monies as best you can.’