A Kirklees resident has been fined for benefits fraud relating to failing to declare that a partner was living with her over a period of 22 months. Stacey Trott, aged 38, from Dewsbury appeared before Kirklees Magistrates Court in Huddersfield on the morning of May 12th, where she was accused of fraudulently claiming £22,227 of benefits by the Department of Work and Pensions for failing to disclose that her partner, Steven Simpson, had been living with her between July 2021 and May 2023.
The court heard that despite the claim that the defendant was a single mum who lived with her two children who were her co-dependents with no other source of income, Steven Simpson had listed Stacey Trott’s residence as his home address for his bank account, his work address, car insurance, and as his voting address. The prosecution also referred to several amounts of money sent from Steven to Stacey in small amounts for home amenities, as well as a one-off payment of £12,000. There was also talk of a new kitchen which was purchased with some of these funds around the same time
Acknowledging an early guilty plea, the defense stated Stacey Trott to be a person of good character, as well as claiming that the receipt of the benefits was not fraudulent from the outset, and that she had been separated for a while from Mr. Simpson before they eventually reconciled and he moved back in. The defense also said that Steven Simpson is now Stacey’s ex-partner who she no longer lives or has any communication with. There were also mitigating circumstances which were kept private from the court.
After a brief adjournment for the magistrates to discuss the case, they returned and charged Stacey Trott with a 12-month community order which includes 20 days of rehabilitation activity. She was also ordered to pay back the full sum of £22,227 at the rate of £30.69 a month which will be deducted from her benefits. In addition to this, the defendant is also required to pay court costs of £199, which will also be deducted from her benefits.
Despite limping over to the dock in the courtroom, Stacey and her friend left with no mobility issues whatsoever after the verdict was read.
Read other court stories from 12/05/25 here: