Henlow make-up artist who claims clients include Brad Pitt and Keira Knightley admits benefit fraud

A make-up artist has been ordered to wear an electronic tag after admitting benefit fraud.

Louise Page, who runs a beauty academy at Henlow Grange spa hotel in Bedfordshire, admitted five counts of making false statements to obtain benefits at a court hearing on Monday.

The 40-year-old make-up artist, who claims to have worked with celebrities such as Brad Pitt and Keira Knightley, was overpaid more than £13,000 in housing and council tax benefits between 2009-2012.

When making her benefit claims she failed to mention she was in receipt of a private pension, that her husband was living with her and that he owned a property.

Investigators uncovered the pension through the National Fraud Initiative – a data-matching exercise which has identified £1 billion in fraud and error nationally since its inception in 1996.

During the investigation further evidence was found implying that, despite Page claiming to be a single parent, her husband was also living in the property at Jubilee End in Steeple Morden, Cambridgeshire.

This was discovered when rubbish dumped in bins at Steeple Morden Village Hall was found to include printed copies of emails between Page and her husband.

South Cambridgeshire Distirct Council fraud investigators retrieved further emails between the two from the husband’s employer which indicated they were still in a relationship.

Page was handed a curfew order by Cambridge magistrates which requires her to wear an electronic tag and stay at her home between 7pm-7am for the next 12 weeks. She has also been ordered to pay £900 in costs.