Benefit fraudster Maria Pridmore ordered to pay £1 token fine after stealing over £50,000

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. But Judge Simon Hirst ruled Pridmore, who appeared via video link from Drake Hall prison in Staffordshire, did not have the assets to pay the money back to her victims or the state and ordered her to pay back a nominal sum of £1. She also used it to buy £500 worth of goods and after Ms Crocker was moved to a care home she continued to use her details to transfer over £5,000 out of her account – even using the card to pay for a £60 return taxi fare for a court appearance, the Lincolnshire Echo reported. But Judge Simon Hirst ruled Pridmore, who appeared via video link from Drake Hall prison in Staffordshire, did not have the assets to pay the money back to her victims and ordered her to pay back a nominal sum of £1. Pridmore, from Holbeach in Lincolnshire, pleaded guilty to seven counts of benefit fraud, 19 charges of theft and fraud against the women and to several other shop thefts, obstructing a police officer and stealing her father’s flatpack kitchen furniture days after his wife’s death in April 2015.