A BENEFITS cheat took her family on a £15,000 Disneyland trip after hiding a £170,000 nest-egg.

Christine Angell, 61, claimed she was broke and pocketed £47,316 over 5½ years despite landing two inheritances from her partner and brother.

She also received up to £3,750 a month from her brother’s Swiss assets.

Angell, who had five bank accounts, got housing and employment benefits.

Prosecutor Jeffrey Jones said Angell took her family on the Disneyland trip and another holiday to Orlando in Florida.

Mr Jones said: "The money was inherited from her brother and partner.

"Her benefits were paid on the basis that she would inform the authorities of any changes in her circumstances."

Cardiff Crown court heard she wrongly claimed £47,315.97 over five-and-a-half-years in housing benefit and employment and support allowance

Department for Work and Pensions found she was receiving large sums of money which she did not declare.

But she claimed she did not mention the hidden capital as she did not think she was obliged to declare "gifts".

Angell had five bank accounts with NatWest and received nearly £40,000 in April 2012 — followed by another £20,000 and £15,000 a month later.

In December the following year £50,000 was deposited in her account followed by another £47,000.

The court heard she was also receiving regular monthly payments of £1,000 to £3,750, from her brother's assets in Switzerland.

Angell was interviewed in June last year and denied any wrongdoing.

The court heard her brother died in 2008 and her partner died in 2011.

She accepted she had inherited from them but believed she did not have to disclose the amounts as they were "gifts".

Angell's partner wanted his money to be spent on the family and "she felt obliged and complied with his wish", the court heard.

The fraud, of Cardiff, admitted three charges at the city crown court.

Judge Michael Fitton QC said he was considering an immediate custodial sentence of around ten months — meaning she could spend five months behind bars.

Angell takes 12 different medications a day including morphine for various health problems.

She was bailed until sentencing in July following health assessments.