Benefit fraud

A CHRONIC arthritis sufferer, Jean Thompson, 59, of Peterlee, Co Durham, was given a nine- month suspended jail sentence at Teesside Crown Court for claiming pounds 33,333 invalidity benefit over 16 years while she held a full-time job as a university receptionist. Thompson, who admitted obtaining money by deception, had valid medical certificates stating she was unfit to work but was in debt, the court was told.