A husband and wife who cashed in £50,000 in benefits by falsely claiming to be single parents were caught red-handed after they exposed themselves with their own loved-up holiday photos.
Alan Forsythe, 37, and wife Jemma, 36, created an elaborate scheme in which they ripped the British taxpayer out of thousands of pounds by claiming they were separated despite living happily in a family home.
A court heard that between 2019 and 2023, the pair were living together at their family property in Blackpool, along with their two children and Jemma’s two older kids from a previous relationship.
However, the benefit cheats told the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) that they were each living separately.
In an astonishing sting operation, it was the couple’s own boastful social media posts, which showed they were visibly a happily married couple, that sparked an urgent investigation and led to their downfall.
In one photo, they are seen posing with peace signs with the crystal clear ocean and rugged mountains behind them. In others, they are pictured luxuriating on sunloungers in swimwear and relaxing in a sauna.
Preston Crown Court heard how between 2019 and 2023, the couple scrounged a total of £52,190.18 from the DWP – the UK’s largest government department which is responsible for welfare, pensions, and child maintenance policy.
In February 2019, Alan Forsythe first made a claim for Universal Credit, claiming he was living alone at a flat in Blackpool.
Alan Forsythe (back), 37, and wife Jemma (front), 36, created an elaborate scheme in which they ripped off the British taxpayers out of thousands of pounds. They are pictured here posing in front of the ocean and mountains – a photo which saw their scheme come crashing down
In another photo, the benefits cheats are seen luxuriating on sun loungers in trunks and a bikini
He continued to claim until October 2019, but in January 2022 he signed on again – this time claiming to be a single father to a child who was living with him.
Mr Forsythe continued to claim Universal Credit on that basis until July 2023, the court heard, claiming a total of £3,182 which he was not entitled to.
His wife Jemma, who now uses her maiden name of O’Malley, also made a single parent claim with the DWP in June 2020.
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.
She continued the lie until June 2023, fraudulently claiming £49,007, the court heard.
Each claimant signed a declaration stating the information they had provided was true, and committing to inform the DWP of any changes in circumstances.
Mrs Forsythe also has a previous conviction for failing to notify the DWP of a change in circumstances, dating back to 2014.
The DWP launched an investigation 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.
In this photo, Alan and Jemma are seen relaxing in what appears to be a sauna
On June 14, Mr Forsythe attended St Annes Jobcentre where he claimed he was ‘sofa surfing’ after splitting up with Jemma.
On June 26, Mrs Forsythe attended the same Jobcentre and told investigators they had separated but not yet divorced. The pair later pleaded guilty to fraud.
In September 2024, Alan Forsythe was jailed for four years after he was involved in a brutal attack which left a man with life changing injuries. He appeared at Preston Crown Court to face fraud charges on a prison video link.
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.
Mrs Forsythe’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. Just because money is public money does not make this any less serious.’
The benefit cheats were happily married (pictured on their wedding day) despite claiming to be separated
She sentenced Alan Forsythe, of Armistead Court, Fleetwood, to 15 weeks to run consecutively to the sentence he is currently serving. However she said she considered the children’s right to a family life when sentencing Mrs Forsythe.
‘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.’
She sentenced Mrs Forsythe, of Foxdale Avenue, Blackpool, to 21 months suspended for two years with 10 days rehabilitation activity requirements and a curfew from 9pm to 7am for the next six months.
