A COUPLE dishonestly obtained more than £45,000 in benefit by claiming they were living apart, Maidstone Crown Court heard on Friday.

Barbara Dickson legitimately began to claim income support, housing benefit and council tax benefit after her husband, Samuel, left her in January 2000.

However, when he moved back to the matrimonial home in Fourwents Road, Hoo, just five weeks later Barbara Dickson, fearing he might leave again, decided not to inform the authorities.

The couple then kept up their charade for more than five years, despite continuing to enjoy annual family holidays together and buying cars registered to the matrimonial address.

Barbara Dickson, 50, admitted four offences of dishonestly obtaining benefit while Samuel Dickson, 46, admitted four charges of allowing his wife to dishonestly obtain benefit. They each asked for three similar offences to be taken into consideration.

They were both sentenced to 12 months imprisonment suspended for 18 months.

Samuel Dickson was also ordered to attend the Home Office accredited Think First programme.