article_snippet: Cheat: Melissa Whiting, 33, from Darlington, who used illegally claimed benefits as a 'financial security net' while enjoying foreign holidays and a lavish lifestyle .
article_snippet: Melissa Whiting told officials Melissa Whiting lived alone with Melissa Whiting three children and raked in income support, housing benefit and council tax relief, Teesside Crown Court heard.
article_snippet: It also enabled Melissa Whiting to pay for family holidays to Majorca and Bulgaria, as well as a £1,000-plus sofa, fridge, washing machine, flooring and a Sky subscription.
article_snippet: Eventually, Whiting admitted two charges of failing to notify a change in circumstances, and yesterday Melissa Whiting was given a two-month suspended prison sentence.
article_snippet: The judge, Recorder Martin Bethel, QC, described Melissa Whiting dishonesty as 'blatant' and also ordered Whiting, of Chestnut Drive, to pay £400 costs.
article_snippet: Melissa Whiting added: 'Melissa Whiting explanation to the Probation Service for continuing to claim benefits is it was a financial safety net for Melissa Whiting and Melissa Whiting children. '
article_snippet: That's somewhat understandable given Melissa Whiting had spent the past 11 years receiving very little money from their fathers. '
article_snippet: Melissa Whiting accepts it was wrong.'
highlights_snippet: Melissa Whiting claimed Melissa Whiting was a single mother in order to claim benefits .
  