Hatfield mother claims benefits for dead child
A MOTHER who claimed nearly �8,000 in the name of her dead toddler has avoided jail. Hatfield mum-of-two Kelechi Mbaeri was a student nurse and claimed for a bursary from the NHS for her two children to attend nursery. But Mbaeri's daughter
A MOTHER who claimed nearly �8,000 in the name of her dead toddler has avoided jail.
Hatfield mum-of-two Kelechi Mbaeri was a student nurse and claimed for a bursary from the NHS for her two children to attend nursery.
But Mbaeri's daughter Somtochukwu died on February 14, 2007.
The 36-year-old, from Stockbreach Road, faced magistrates in St Albans and pleaded guilty to obtaining money by deception and two charges of fraud.
Magistrates agreed custody was needed as a large amount of money was involved and this was a sustained offence.
They also said she quite deliberately used the name of a dead child to obtain money.
Most Read
- 1 IN PICTURES: Stars come out for Simply Red concert in Hatfield Park
- 2 The latest court results for Welwyn Hatfield and Potters Bar
- 3 It's A Kind of Magic as Queen Symphonic's Bohemian Rhapsody rocks Hatfield Park
- 4 'Risk of injury' - Aldi recalls product due to safety fears
- 5 Updated Simply Red set times for Hatfield Park concert
- 6 Jodie Williams defies injury-blighted season to claim Commonwealth bronze
- 7 'Tesco must tackle blight of trolley-dumping in Potters Bar'
- 8 Pictures of Paloma Faith and special guest Sam Ryder at Hatfield Park concert
- 9 Sign of the times: The life of Welwyn Garden City signwriter Arthur Brown
- 10 Champions! Old Owens going up after securing title
They ordered her to serve 16 weeks in prison, but suspended the sentence for 12 months.
She was ordered to pay back �2,000 in compensation to the NHS.
* For reaction to her sentence see today's Welwyn & Hatfield Times.
