A BENEFITS cheat was exposed by her own children during an interview with council staff, a court heard.

Samantha Law, aged 36, of Netherfield Road, Great Lever, claimed thousand of pounds she was not entitled to after landing a job as a part-time cleaner and failing to tell Bolton Council.

But after filling in a form saying she was not employed, suspicions were raised in an interview at the council’s One Stop Shop when asked whether she worked — as she answered “no”, her two children who were with her said “yes”.

Law pleaded guilty at Bolton Magistrates’ Court yesterday to making a false statement to claim housing and council tax benefits and failing to notify the council of a change in circumstances.

In a separate case, magistrates heard that an anonymous tip-off led council investigators to the home of Steven Wood, aged 38, of Winter Hey Lane, Horwich.

Wood had claimed housing and council tax benefits during a period of illness last summer, but when he returned to work he failed to notify the council of his increased income.

He pleaded guilty to failing to notify the council of his change in circumstances.

He was fined £300 and ordered to pay a £15 victim surcharge and £150 costs.