A MOTHER-OF-THREE who claimed she and her partner were unemployed to collect thousands of pounds in housing benefit did so because she could not rely on his income to feed the children, a court heard.

Michaela Ehlers, of Sleightholme Court, Trowbridge, lied for six months to gain more than £3,000 after her ex-partner began squandering away his wages at the bookmakers.

The 26-year-old claimed that tax credits were the only means the couple had of supporting their three children, even after her partner had started working.

On Friday, Salisbury Magistrates’ Court heard Ehlers had been receiving housing benefit and jobseekers’ allowance, but the Department for Work and Pensions found evidence that she had failed to declare the change in circumstances after her partner gained work with a recruitment agency. Magistrates were told that the work was not full-time and the family “couldn’t rely on any regular income”.

Defending, Mike Pulsford said Ehlers’ partner had a gambling problem and when he did receive wages he would spend them at the bookmakers.

He added that Ehlers is no longer with him, but he has left her with debts due to his addiction.

“Her partner was somebody who exerted quite a bit of influence over her and she was trying to help him,” he said.

Ehlers admitted two charges of dishonestly failing to notify change of circumstances affecting entitlement to benefits .

She has also now begun paying back the overpaid money and hopes to be able to return the whole amount.

Magistrates imposed a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered her to pay a £20 victim surcharge.