A WOMAN who made headlines with a sci-fi themed wedding has been handed a suspended prison sentence after admitting a £16,000 benefit fraud.
Anita Wood and her partner Margaret Wood took the world by storm following their Star Trek civil partnership ceremony.
But Anita Wood, of Gendros Avenue East, Gendros, failed to declare her changed circumstances and claimed more than £16,000 in benefits to which she was not entitled.
Following the prosecution Anita Wood said it had been an oversight and she never intended to make fraudulent benefit claims.
She said the outcome had been very "hurtful", adding: "It wasn't intentional. We had declared her as a non-dependent but not a partner. I was devastated. My whole family has been affected by it. I've never done anything wrong in my life, or anyone in my family."
Anita Wood, a full-time carer, said Margaret Wood had not been paying half the bills, only her keep.
Swansea magistrates were told that following the Star Trek event at the Liberty Stadium in September 2011, Anita Wood should have declared that she and Margaret Wood were in a civil partnership because it would have reduced the amount of benefits she was entitled to claim as Margaret Wood was in full-time employment.
A member of the council's benefits team reported concerns and a joint investigation was conducted by council investigators and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
In court, Anita Wood admitted six offences of benefit fraud. She was sentenced to 12 weeks jail, suspended for a year for the first offence and the same sentence for the remaining five offences to run concurrently. She will also have to pay back the money she claimed as well as £150 court costs and a £60 victim surcharge.
Tal Davies, Swansea Council's investigations manager, added: "We are pleased our work is getting results and will continue to find all those who steal benefits.
''We're working with the DWP fraud team to make that happen.
"Benefits fraud is not a victimless crime and last year 163 people were punished for benefit fraud with prison sentences, community service orders, formal cautions or fines and also had to repay their illegally-obtained benefits."
