The former contestant from Masterchef fame been sentenced for swindling more than 26,000 in benefits.Luciana Byrne appeared on Masterchef Goes Large last year and was in fact chosen for the quarter final before being left go.
The Mirror reports that the mom said she had split from her husband in 2005 to apply for and receive benefits afforded only to singe parents.
The problem was, that a visiting benefits officer went to her home, where she then let slip that she was married. Byrne, 40, of Hornchurch, Essex, earlier admitted making those false claims for housing and council tax benefit amounting to £26,631.
“She was sentenced to 150 hours’ community service and given an 11-month suspended sentence at Basildon Magistrates Court yesterday”.
She said: “I loved MasterChef but I suppose it was my downfall. I’m ashamed, I’ll never do anything like it again.”
