A THURROCK Councillor accused of committing benefit fraud is due to give evidence in court tomorrow.

Clare Baldwin, who has represented the Tilbury Riverside and Thurrock Park ward since 2011, has been standing trial at Basildon Crown Court this week over claims she made a false statement in March 2012 with a view to obtaining housing and council tax benefit.

Baldwin, a mum of ten, is accused of failing to declare she was living with her then-partner, Terrance Hearse, in Byron Gardens, Tilbury, in March 2012.

The amount claimed between March 2012 and February 2013 was £2,645.64.

The court heard on Tuesday that Mr Hearse, whose charges were dropped earlier this year, had registered his car to the Tilbury address, as well as having his post delivered there and using the address to apply for a loan.

This was despite Baldwin saying Mr Hearse had been "sofa surfing" at friends homes.

Giving evidence, David Kleinberg, fraud investigation manager at Thurrock Council, said what raised suspicion in his department was when the Labour councillor made a point of saying on her benefits application form that she was single.

He then launched an investigation into the claim.

The investigation found that Mr Hearse had given his address as Byron Gardens at his place of work, his car insurance through a broker AJ Insurance and been visited at the address by loan company Provident Personal Credit. He had also registered for the Sai Medical Centre in Tilbury.

Mr Kleinberg’s investigation also saw him interview Baldwin later in 2012 to probe her on her living situation, to which she said Mr Hearse wasn’t living with her but let him use the address for his post.

Defending, John Caudle said his client showed surprise at the time when she found a car had been registered to the address.

The trial continues.

Check back here for the verdict.