When Sarah Pipe told Ipswich Crown Court that she had no idea how a payment of £34,877 landed in her account or where it came from, Judge David Pugh said this claim was “not worthy of belief”.
The 69-year-old admitted to continuing to claim benefits between April 2019 and June 2023, despite having inherited £90,000 weeks previously.
It is now estimated that she gained £57,222.43 from this dishonesty.
“You weren’t someone who regularly received tens of thousands of pounds into your bank account,” Judge Pugh told Pipe. “It appears to me for reasons I don’t understand you decided to lie to the probation officer and this court.”
Despite having benefited more than £50,000, it was determined on Friday that Pipe, of Ann Street, Ipswich, must pay back £6,475.