Reason benefit cheat mum dodged jail despite lying to DWP about being single parent

A dishonest mum who lied about being a single parent to pocket thousands of pounds from the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) was spared immediate jail.

Although Jemma Forsythe managed to cheat her way to benefits, a judge ruled sending her to prison would have a detrimental impact on her children. She shares two of her kids with husband Alan Forsythe, and has two older ones from a previous relationship. However, she and Alan together conned the DWP out of more than £50,000 by each claiming they were single parents.

But their ruse was exposed after the couple, from Blackpool, Lancashire, posted photographs of themselves together on holiday. While Alan Forsythe, 37, was sentenced to 15 weeks in jail on Tuesday, Jemma Forsythe's 21-month term was suspended fow two years as the judge considered her children.

Sitting at Preston Crown Court, Recorder Ayesha Siddiqi said: "Taking money is not the solution. Your children deserve better than this - this is no example to set them. They are today facing the prospect of both parents being in prison. Their rights are very important to this court.

"If it wasn't for those children I would be sending you to prison right now. Because of those children I am going to suspend the sentence."

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It means should Jemma Forsythe, 36, reoffend in the next two years, she will face 21 months in prison in addition to any punishment for the further crimes. She will, though, have to complete a 10-day rehabilitation programme and be subject to a curfew from 9pm to 7am for the next six months.

In February 2019, Alan Forsythe madea claim for Universal Credit, claiming he was living alone at a flat in Blackpool. His claims continued until October 2019. He signed on again in January 2022, claiming to be a single dad to a child living with him.

But throughout this period, he was living with Jemma Forsythe, their two children and her two older offspring. Overall, Alan Forsythe claimed £3,182.7 to which he was not entitled. Jemma, who now uses her maiden name of O'Malley made a claim with the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) in June 2020, also claiming to be a single parent. She claimed she was living with her four children but failed to report that her husband was also living at the family home - and working full time. Her lies bagged her a whopping £49,007.91 until June 2023. In court, the pair admitted fraud.

Both claimants said the information they had provided was true, and committing to inform the DWP of any changes in circumstances. Jemma also has a previous conviction for failing to notify the DWP of a change in circumstances, dating back to 2014, Lancs Live reported.

An investigation was launched by the DWP and discovered social media posts in which the pair presented themselves as a married couple. They made further inquiries, looking at bank statements and credit references, before inviting them to be interviewed in June 2023.

Alan Forsythe appeared in court via a video link from jail after he was jailed for four years when he carried out a brutal attack on a man who was left with life-changing injuries. He was sentenced to 15 weeks, his sentence running consecutively to his current one.