Stuart Mathews, 41, continued to access her bank accounts, spending money and transferring funds for nearly two years as though she were still alive.
His scam was discovered in 2023 when the Department for Work and Pensions were tipped off that Josephine Mathews, who had been suffering from dementia and for whom he had acted as carer, had died in December 2021.
Failure to report her death meant she continued to receive £17,807 in state pension allowance and £8,965 in attendance allowance.
Mathews also continued to claim £20,678 from two private pension providers.
Rohan Clarke, prosecuting at Norwich Crown Court said: “He was in a position of responsibility including managing his mother’s bank accounts and to declare her death, instead he took advantage of that position and abused it.”
Stuart Mathews was given a suspended jail sentence after admitted fraud by false representation (Image: Newsquest)
Mathews, of Salisbury Way in Thetford, pleaded guilty to three counts of fraud by false representation.
Judge Mark Dennis KC sentenced him to 27 months’ imprisonment but said he had been just persuaded to suspend it for 30 months, with requirements to complete 15 rehabilitation days and 300 hours’ unpaid work, the maximum allowed.
“There is no doubt this was a deliberate taking of money that was not rightfully yours, whatever the other aspects regarding the death of your mother,” he said.
Danielle O’Donovan, mitigating, said he had been “isolated, depressed and deep in grief” at the time and was “almost living a fantasy world where he could believe that his mother was still alive”.
She said he had previously lived “something of a cosseted life with his parents”.
“His mother’s death was something he found very difficult to cope with but it has caused him to mature, something that at age 41 he should have done at 21,” she added.
Stuart Matthews claimed £26,792 in state pensions alongside £20,678 from two private pensions (Image: PA)
The court set a timetable for confiscation order proceedings to recover the money from Mathews, who owns a £120,000 house, after he indicated a “willingness and desire to repay the full amount”.
A DWP spokesperson said: “Benefit fraud is not a victimless crime – it steals money from the people who need it most.
“Whatever your reasons for cheating the system, know that our investigators are wise to every trick in the book and we will find you.
“So, if you know someone is playing the system, turn them in.”