Former Miss Great Britain finalist from Northampton facing £22,000 benefit fraud charges
Rachel Hatton
A FORMER Miss Great Britain finalist from Northampton has pleaded not guilty to falsely claiming almost £22,000 in benefits.
Rachel Hatton (pictured), aged 28, of Foxfield Way, Grange Park, appeared at Northampton Magistrates’ Court yesterday charging with failing to declare to the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) that she was living with Nathaniel Simon as husband and wife.
The court heard Hatton is alleged to have dishonestly claimed benefits after informing the DWP on May 21, 2009 and September 2, 2009 that she was a single parent.
She is also charged with fraudulently filling in a legal aid form on September 2, 2009.
Hatton, who was the first divorcee to be allowed to enter the Miss Great Britain competition in 2010, denied all three charges.
Nathaniel Simon, aged 36, also of Foxfield Way, Grange Park, appeared in the dock alongside Hatton charged with using a false tenancy agreement to claim benefits from South Northamptonshire Council.
Simon offered no plea to the charge.
Both were released on bail to reappear at the same court for a committal hearing on March 2.
Hatton, who appeared in a black suit, white blouse and black patent heels, won the regional title of Miss Warwickshire in 2010 before going on to the finals of the contest.
Hatton, who served five years in the Army as a communications specialist from 2000 to 2005, took advantage of a decision by the Miss Great Britain competition organisers to lift the ban on divorcees and single mothers.
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