Couple made up 16 children in benefit fraud

Two people have been sentenced after claiming thousands of pounds in benefits for 16 non-existent children.

Danny Wilshaw, 58, claimed more than £75,000 over four years and must serve half of a 20-month jail sentence.

Nancy Stevenson, 59, of Weston-super-Mare, was accused of claiming up to £11,000 in child tax credits over four years.



She was given a 12-month non-custodial order and must observe a curfew between 1900 and 0700 BST.

The pair, both from Weston-super-Mare, exploited a loophole after realising they did not have to send children's birth certificates to tax officials to prove they existed.

After his arrest, Wilshaw, a gambling addict with 85 previous convictions for fraud, claimed he had done a public service by exposing the loophole.