Search: Amanda Hyett fraud
An 'aunt' of abducted schoolgirl Shannon Matthews has been warned she faces a jail term after admitting benefit fraud.
Amanda Hyett, 27, illegally claimed more than £35,000 in income support and housing benefit over a four-year period, Leeds Crown Court heard.
Hyett, of Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, admitted four counts of making a false statement or representation to obtain benefits, one count of retaining a wrongful credit and one count of failure to notify a change of circumstances.
She denied one count of making a false statement.
The pleas were accepted by the Crown and the case, which was not opened in court, was adjourned to November 5 for sentence.
The Recorder of Leeds, Peter Collier QC, adjourned the case for the preparation of a pre-sentence report. He told her: "The fact I have granted bail and asked for reports is no indication the sentence will not be custodial. These are serious matters you had admitted. The likely sentence is a prison sentence. Whether that is so or what length will be determined by the judge on November 5."
Hyett, of King Edward Street, Thornhill Lees, was granted conditional bail and told to keep appointments with the Probation Service.
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Hyett is the sister of Shannon's mother Karen's ex-partner Craig Meehan. She became a well-known figure after she became involved in the hunt for Shannon, who sparked a huge search operation when she disappeared in February last year.
Following the guilty pleas it emerged that some of her fraudulent activity occurred while Shannon was missing.
The bulk of the charges relate to her failing to declare that she was living with her husband Neil when obtaining the benefits. One charge relates to her retaining credits of £5,181.52 which was paid into an an account kept by her at the Post Office which she failed to cancel. The total fraud amounted to £35,885.27, the court was told.
