# Benefits cheat fleecs £44,000 from taxpayer by claiming she is single

> Judith Blackmore, 64, fraudulently claimed single status to receive £44,415 in Universal Credit and £4,392 council tax discount until Facebook photos revealed her wedding and honeymoon.
- Title: Benefits cheat fleecs £44,000 from taxpayer by claiming she…
- Summary: Judith Blackmore, 64, fraudulently claimed single status to receive £44,415 in Universal Credit and £4,392 council tax discount until Facebook photos…
- Keywords: judith blackmore, universal credit, council tax discount, dwp, facebook, benefits fraud, east riding of yorkshire council, hull crown court, news, entertainment, Benefits, cheat
- Source: Dailymail — https://dailymail.com/news/article-16138487/benefits-cheat-wedding-photos-benefit-fraud.html?ito=1490&ns_campaign=1490&ns_mchannel=rss
- Published: 2026-09-17T11:40:12+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: judith blackmore, universal credit, council tax discount, dwp, facebook, benefits fraud, east riding of yorkshire council, hull crown court, news, entertainment
## Benefits fraud revealed
Judith Blackmore, 64, fraudulently claimed single status to receive £44,415 in Universal Credit and £4,392 council tax discount until Facebook photos revealed her wedding and honeymoon.

> A benefits cheat fleeced more than £44,000 from 'hard-working' taxpayers by claiming she was single until investigators find photos of her hen do, wedding and Cyprus honeymoon plastered across Facebook
## Blackmore's false claims
Judith Blackmore, from Beverley in East Riding of Yorkshire, never disclosed she was in a relationship when she applied for and received benefits and reduced council tax.
## Universal Credit fraud
Blackmore received Universal Credit on the basis she was single, had no other income and simply shared a tenancy with a man.
## Council tax discount
Blackmore also received a council tax reduction on the basis that she was single with no other income or capital.
## Overpaid benefits
Hull Crown Court heard she was overpaid benefit of £44,415 -£40,023 from Universal Credit and £4,392 from the council tax discount.
## Facebook evidence
Photos shared by the horsewoman show her wearing a blue gown and floral headband as she stood beside her husband at the reception on May 3, 2024.
## Honeymoon photos
She captioned the carousel of photos: 'Well, we did it. Thanks to all who helped make our day, and my beautiful children and grandchildren.'
## Second hen do
Just a week earlier, Blackmore celebrated her 'second hen do' with a champagne-fuelled train journey and a day at the shops with five female friends.
## Honeymoon in Cyprus
A few days after the wedding, Blackmore shared photos from her honeymoon in Cyprus, where she stayed in an oceanfront resort.
## Fraud admission
Blackmore admitted fraud by failing to disclose information to the East Riding of Yorkshire Council between July 1, 2019 and June 17, 2024.
## DWP investigation
The DWP launched an investigation into her social media accounts after finding Facebook photos of her wedding and honeymoon.
## Financial interdependency
Bank statements showed large sums transferred between their accounts, with the man transferring £96,000 into Blackmore's account and her moving £73,000 into his.
## Facebook relationship
Blackmore was shown on her Facebook profile of being in a relationship with her 'co-tenant' since August 28, 2013.
## Marriage certificate
Investigators also obtained the marriage certificate to confirm the relationship.
## DWP requirements
Blackmore was required to notify the DWP if she was living with a partner while receiving Universal Credit.
## False declaration
Blackmore admitted the information she concealed would have affected her benefits payments.
## Court sentence
Recorder Richard Wright KC gave Blackmore a 16-month suspended prison sentence and ordered her to complete 120 hours' unpaid work.
## Key takeaway

Judith Blackmore, 64, fraudulently claimed single status to receive £44,415 in Universal Credit and £4,392 council tax discount until Facebook photos revealed her wedding and honeymoon.