Connnnnn!
Posted on 05/31/2013 12:37:28 PM PDT by nickcarraway
It was the happiest day of Anita Wood’s life – but her science fiction-themed civil partnership landed her in a lot of trouble in reality.
The 46-year-old same-sex ceremony with partner Margaret Wood, held at Swansea City’s Liberty Stadium in 2011, attracted some unwanted attention as the couple and their guests donned costumes inspired by their favourite show Star Trek.
Photos from the unusual gathering were spotted in the local press by investigators looking into fraudulent benefits claims – proving Wood had falsely claimed £16,000 as a jobless single person while she was living with her partner who was in full-time employment.
She was then forced to boldy go to court, where the mother-of-two was handed a suspended jail sentence and ordered to pay back all the cash.
Prosecutor Felicity Lewis told Swansea magistrates’ court: ‘Anita Wood should have declared that she and Margaret Wood were in a civil partnership.
‘It would have reduced the amount of benefits she was entitled to claim as Margaret Wood was in full-time employment.’
Wood, from Swansea, pleaded guilty to six charges of benefit fraud by failing to declare a change in her circumstances. She was sentenced to 12 weeks in jail, suspended for a year.
She told the court her 50-year-old civil partner had not been paying half the bills after moving into her home, only enough to cover her bed and board.
After avoiding jail, she insisted: ‘It wasn’t intentional. We had declared Margaret as a non-dependent but not a partner.
‘I was devastated. My whole family has been affected by it. I’ve never done anything wrong in my life, or anyone in my family.’
Wood met her partner through an online forum for fans of Star Trek.
At the time of her wedding – before she wished she could be beamed up and away – Wood spoke of her love of the show: ‘We have always been into the show.
‘I watched the original series as a child and you just enjoy the escapism and the humour of it all.’
Connnnnn!
The wide angle lens makes those two on the right look fat.
If it walks like a duck... moooo
Their gravitational field makes any lens into a wide angle lens.
I can’t wait until the first homo is ordered to pay alimony and turkey baster support.
Best laugh I have had all week. Saw new Star Trek on Monday and thought the Kahn line was a little cheesy. Yours however, classic.
It ain’t the wide angle lens ...
You are welcome.
LOL! I suspect that the lens had very little to do with that effect.
My Big Fat Lesbian, Nerd, Welfare Wedding
... to boldly go where no man has gone before
The Chubby gal second from right is Anita Wood. I assume the other chubby next to her is her partner.
A troubling image, LOL.
Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Darmok and Jallad at the All-You-Can-Eat Buffet
Shaka, when the walls fell.
Those two aren’t missing any meals.
Looks like they’ve been hitting the replicator a few too many times.
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