EXCLUSIVE: Benefits mum-of-ten Mandy Cowie: ‘I treat my 14-year-old daughter to cigarettes when she’s good’

Mandy Cowie claims she's a good mum despite smoking and boozing with her 14-year-old daughter who's been refusing to go to school for months...

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by Miranda Knox |
Published on

Single mum Mandy Cowie hasn't worked since she was 17, and for the past 30 years has relied on benefits to provide for her 10 kids by five different dads.

Only one of 49-year-old Mandy's eight grown-up children is currently employed- two of them have been in trouble with the police, with one being imprisoned- and Mandy admits she struggles to control her youngest two.

In controversial new Channel 5 TV show, Benefits Britain: Big Families Special, jaw-dropping scenes show Mandy, who's spent over £2k on tattoos, smoking and drinking alcohiol with her 14-year-old daughter Charlie, who's refused to go to school for the past four months.

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In an exclusive interview, controversial mum Mandy- who claims £22,000 in benefits- even admits she buys Charlie cigarettes as a treat if she's been 'good'.

Mandy says: "I don't approve of Charlie smoking, but I'd rather she do it in front of me.

"We share packets of cigarettes, and if she's been good and helps cook or wash up, I'll treat her to the odd packas a reward too- I've been doing that since she was 13. I don't care what people think.

"When it comes to drinking, she doesn't do it all the time."

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She added: "People will slag me off for it, but she's doing it in my house- not on the street- and I give her weak drinks."

**Read Closer's full exclusive interview, out now! **

**Benefits Britain: Big Families Special will be aired on Channel 5, Wednesday 20 May, 9pm **

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