Benefit cheat couple claimed they separated but social media showed the truth

Daily Mirror

09-07-2025

A benefit cheat couple cheated their way to over £50,000 as they claimed to be separated and single parents - but the DWP found they were lying after snooping on their social media
A married fraudster couple were caught lying about being single parents when they posted pictures of themselves on holiday.
Alan Forsythe, 37, and his wife Jemma, 36, managed to cheat their way to over £50,000 in benefits before they were finally caught.
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The fraudsters lived together in Blackpool along with their two shared children and Jemma's two older children from a previous relationship between 2019 and 2023. In February 2019, Alan Forsythe made a claim for Universal Credit, claiming he was living alone at a flat in the town.
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His claims continued until October 2019. He signed on again in January 2022 claiming to be a single dad to a child living with him.
Preston Crown Court heard he continued to claim Universal Credit on this basis until July 2023. Overall, he claimed £3,182.7 he was not entitled to.
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His wife Jemma Forsythe, who now uses her maiden name of O'Malley made a claim with the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) in June 2020, also claiming to be a single parent. She claimed she was living with her four children but failed to report that her husband was also living at the family home - and working full time.
Her lies bagged her a whopping £49,007.91 until June 2023. In court, the pair admitted fraud.
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Both claimants said the information they had provided was true, and committing to inform the DWP of any changes in circumstances. Jemma also has a previous conviction for failing to notify the DWP of a change in circumstances, dating back to 2014, Lancs Live reported.
An investigation was launched by the DWP and discovered social media posts in which the pair presented themselves as a married couple. They made further inquiries, looking at bank statements and credit references, before inviting them to be interviewed in June 2023.
That month, Alan Forsythe said at a Jobcentre that he had split up with Jemma and was now sofa surfing. Later, Jemma told the same Jobcentre the pair had separated but not divorced.
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Alan Forsythe appeared in court via a video link from jail after he was jailed for four years when he carried out a brutal attack on a man who was left with life-changing injuries. He was sentenced to 15 weeks, his sentence running consecutively to his current one.
His barrister Anthony Parkinson said he accepted he would face an immediate custodial sentence but was extremely concerned about the impact on his children if their mother was also sent to prison.
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Jemma's barrister, Kira Unsworth, said her client has a strong work ethic and is trying to tackle her debts through her work as a care assistant. She has since separated from her husband and begun divorce proceedings, she added.
Sentencing, Recorder Ayesha Siddiqi said: "You were both involved in providing false information to the DWP which affected the benefits you were entitled to. You were a married couple and resided together in your family home.
"At the time you made these claims you signed declarations but you were not providing accurate information. You were taking from the public purse.
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"Just because money is public money does not make this any less serious.
"You knew it was a criminal offence," she told the mother. "You have a previous conviction and you went on to commit this offence over this period. This was fraudulent activity over a sustained period of 36 months that you were defrauding the DWP.
"I have heard about the pressure you were under and that you are now working and taking steps to address your mental health. You recognise you need to work on this debt problem.
"Taking money is not the solution. Your children deserve better than this - this is no example to set them. They are today facing the prospect of both parents being in prison. Their rights are very important to this court.
"If it wasn't for those children I would be sending you to prison right now. Because of those children I am going to suspend the sentence."
Jemma was slapped with 21 months suspended for two years with 10 days rehabilitation activity requirements and a curfew from 9pm to 7am for the next six months.