A HAMPSHIRE mum-of- nine has admitted falsely claiming thousands of pounds of taxpayers' money in benefits during a sixyear period.

Lillian Mitchell claimed £92,657 in income support, housing and council tax payments from October 2001 until May 2006.

But she failed to notify the Department for Work and Pensions and Southampton City Council about a change in her living arrangements that meant she was not always entitled to claim the benefits.

The 38-year-old from Southampton, was in fact overpaid by £17,300.

Southampton Crown Court was told that she should not have received this money which was calculated on the amount of time she had been living with her partner Sean Andrews in an on and off relationship.

Jodie Mittell, prosecuting, said Mr Andrews spent around 20 per cent of the time living with Mitchell.

"He would be at the property for about two or three weeks and then be away for two to four months," she said.

The prosecution calculated that the time he was living with Mitchell - when she should not have claimed benefits - amounted to £17,300 being made in fraudulent benefit payments.

Mitchell of Mardale Walk, Millbrook, pleaded guilty to one charge of failing to give prompt notification of a change of circumstances between October 23, 2001 and May 31, 2006 to the Department for Work and Pensions that would change her entitlement to income support.

She also pleaded guilty to failing to notify Southampton City Council of different circumstances that would change her entitlement to housing and council tax benefit during the same period.

Mark Ashley, mitigating, said that Mitchell was a woman of previous good character with no previous convictions.

She was granted unconditional bail and will be sentenced on May 9.