Kerry Katona's estranged mum walks free from court after benefit fraud conviction

11 April 2012
The Weekender

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It was a case which turned a spotlight on the murkier fringes of the celebrity culture.


The mother of reality TV regular Kerry Katona appeared in court today to admit falsely claiming thousands of pounds in benefits.

Sue Katona, 48, a self-confessed former drug addict and alcoholic, collected income support and council tax rebates even though she had more than £46,000 from her daughter in the bank.

Sentenced: Susan Katona, arriving at court today, was giving an unconditional discharge after being found guilty of benefit fraud

Sentenced: Susan Katona, arriving at court today, was giving an unconditional discharge after being found guilty of benefit fraud

She had missed a string of previous court dates, claiming she had not left her house for two years because of agoraphobia  -  the fear of open spaces.

But today, after being warned she faced arrest, she finally arrived in court - and walked free after an hour with a conditional discharge.The sentence came despite a £150million Government crackdown on benefit fraud, entitled 'No ifs, no buts' and warning of tough action.

It means Mrs Katona will have a criminal record but will receive no punishment unless she offends again within the next 18 months.

Among her first words on leaving court were: 'I need a cigarette.'

Runcorn magistrates had heard that she and her daughter are now estranged. They fell out over sordid claims prompted by the former Atomic Kitten singer's autobiography Too Much, Too Young, which highlighted her turbulent upbringing.

Mrs Katona  - whose own mother was a drug addicted prostitute  -  has told how she teamed up with a young Kerry on shoplifting expeditions and later gave her the drug amphetamine.

Happier times: Kerry Katona and her estranged mother Susan

Happier times: Kerry Katona and her estranged mother Susan

She has also said Kerry, a former addict, introduced her to cocaine.

Mother-of-four Kerry, who left Atomic Kitten shortly before they hit the top of the charts, later found new fame by winning I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here!

She has appeared in commercials for the supermarket chain Iceland and a fly-on-the-wall series for MTV.

The court was told that before the family split, she bought her mother a house in Warrington, Cheshire. She later gave her £46,000 to modernise it.

But Mrs Katona, who had been on benefits since 1994, failed to declare the cash. She later told investigators she thought that because it was for home improvements it did not count.

Dressed in a purple suit and shaking constantly in the dock, she admitted two counts of benefits fraud, from July 2006 to March last year, involving £3,342. In all, her wrong claims amounted to £6,393.

She has paid back nearly £1,800 and is repaying the rest in instalments.

John Morris, defending, said: 'One has to feel some sympathy for my client. She had a very strong relationship with her daughter and grandchildren but she doesn't see them now and that has caused immense distress. The real punishment she has had to accept is life under the microscope.

District Judge Bridget Knight said that as Mrs Katona had effectively been under 'house arrest' and was on medication for depression, there was little point ordering her to do community work or observe a curfew.

She imposed an 18-month conditional discharge, saying she doubted Mrs Katona would reoffend. She was also ordered to pay £100 costs.

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