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.’
Mass Effect is a PC Game too, so I think both would be right up your ally!
(Play the first two and then come to me about number 3)
It’s in French but a good parody of Kirk and a fat hag fighting in Dexter’s Lab at 4:35 or so. I think the French makes it funnier. Couldn’t find an English version.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqYYm36gn0s
post of the day!
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.That 16,000 pound figure looks about right.
‘The wide angle lens makes those two on the right look fat.’
It is the fat, that makes them look fat.
Guilty. Very guilty.
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