10.47 am, Sunday July 05 2009

Biggest Loser fraud case adjourned

16:00 AEST Tue Jan 13 2009
By ninemsn staff
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Sentencing has been adjourned in the welfare fraud case of reality television host Ajay Rochester.

Rochester, 39, pleaded guilty to 23 fraud-related charges in November after admitting she incorrectly collected single parent payments.

The host of The Biggest Loser had claimed money from Centrelink over a four-year period beginning in December 2001, Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court was told.

While the prosecution today disputed Rochester's claim she had advised Centrelink of a change in her employment details in December '05, they accepted she had since repaid over $14,000 in wrongly-paid welfare.

She will be sentenced tomorrow.

Rochester, a single mother with an autistic child, had enlisted a celebrity entourage to help her avoid a possible jail sentence.

American Entertainment Tonight co-anchor Leeza Gibbons and Queensland singer Chantelle Delaney reportedly both gave character witnesses.

The three had met last year on Olivia Newton-Johns' Great Wall of China charity walk and became close friends.

Rochester, previously named Lee Ann Towler, shot to fame after penning books Confessions of a Reformed Dieter, Blubberguts and The Lazy Girl's Guide to Losing Weight and Getting Fit.

Her eight-year-old son Kai was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome, a high-functioning form of autism, at the age of five.

Rochester is set to return to television early this year to host the fifth season of Channel Ten's weight-loss program.

 
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