A benefit fraudster who travelled abroad so many times that she was dubbed "Miss Holiday" by friends has been spared jail.
Despite having money hidden away in two different bank accounts, Susan Pearson said she had nothing and falsely claimed more than £40,000 in Universal Credit.
The 58-year-old also fraudulently obtained a £500 reduction on her council tax bill.
However, welfare officials caught the fraudster after they received information that she had over £40,000 undeclared savings with Nationwide and a Co-Funds account.
The maximum capital limit for anyone claiming Universal Credit is £16,000.
Pearson admitted two charges of dishonestly failing to disclose information at Bolton Crown Court
|PA
Upon questioning, Pearson claimed she had used some of her money for "windows, roof repair and a door".
However, photos on her social media showed her travelling to Tunisia, Paphos in Cyprus, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote and Tenerife as well as a cruise around the Mediterranean.
Regarding an upcoming eight-day trip, Pearson said online: "About time - not had a holiday since last week."
While it is not known who paid for the trips, one friend commented: "Miss Holiday living up to your name. Miss Holiday is as Miss Holiday does."
Another said: "Where are you now? More air miles than Air Force One" while someone else pondered if she had "won the lottery" and was not "telling [her friends]".
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Lanzarote is just one of the many exotic locations which Pearson visited
| GETTYPearson admitted two charges of dishonestly failing to disclose information at Bolton Crown Court, and was ordered to use all of her savings to repay the benefits.
Prosecutor Ellie Watson said that Pearson had first submitted an online application for Universal Credit in 2018.
In the application, Pearson claimed she was single, unemployed, and had no savings, income, investments or other capital.
Ms Watson added: "The Department for Work and Pensions later received information from a data match that the defendant held an account with Nationwide and an investment account with Co-Funds which had not been declared on her application form, despite agreeing that she had provided all the information.
"The claim was fraudulent from the outset and being over a five-year period was made over a prolonged period of time."
Pearson faced up to two years in prison under sentencing guidelines and broke down into tears when she found she would walk free.
Speaking from the dock, Pearson said: "I do not understand these things - I am not very bright."
Judge Nicholas Clarke KC said: "I am sure you are thoroughly ashamed of yourself to be in the dock at that age.
"But I do not want you to remain in the anxious state that I can see you are in so I want you to know you are not going to prison today.
"But you will need to make arrangements to pay the compensation."