THREE members of a family accused of cheating the taxpayer out of almost £30,000 have entered pleas at Plymouth Crown Court.

Leah Mepstead, her husband Peter and his brother Graham all denied two joint charges of conspiring to commit benefit fraud, including working under false names K Ford, P Ford and G Swiss.

Leah Mepstead, aged 53 and from Moorland View, Saltash, pleaded guilty to three charges. They were failure to notify the Department of Work and Pensions and Plymouth City Council of her change of circumstances – that her husband Peter was working – while she claimed benefits including housing and council tax benefit, and aiding and abetting Peter, who was working, to claim carer's allowance.

Peter Mepstead, aged 42 and of the same address, pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting his wife to claim benefit from the DWP, aiding and abetting her to claim housing and council tax benefit from the city council and failure to tell the DWP he was working while claiming carer's allowance.

Graham Mepstead, aged 44 and from Lofoten Close, Devonport, pleaded guilty to failing to inform the DWP he was working while receiving income support and failing to tell the city council he was working while claiming housing and council tax benefits.

Keith, 44, and his wife Susan Mepstead, 30, both of Taunton Avenue, Whitleigh, are due to appear at the same court on Monday, March 22, where they are expected to enter pleas.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) says that collectively the Mepsteads received income support, carers' allowances, housing benefits and council tax benefits to the tune of £29,159 between May 30, 2004, and March 23, 2008.

The five, aged between 30 and 53, were claiming the cash on the basis that neither they nor their partners were working, Plymouth Magistrates' Court heard at a previous hearing.

Yesterday's pleas look set to be accepted by the prosecution.

Leah, Peter and Graham Mepstead were all granted unconditional bail by Judge Miranda Robertshaw.

They will appear alongside Keith and Susan Mepstead in the dock for the next hearing.