A former revenue and customs worker has avoided jail after admitting illegally claiming almost £50,000 in benefits.

Daisy Adu-Gyamfi, 32, Outram Road, Addiscombe, lied about her immigration status to get a job with Her Majesties Revenue and Customs and then fraudulently claimed child benefit and tax credit claims.

She also calimed childcare sosts when her children no longer attended nursey and working tax credits when no longer employed.

Appearing in Croydon Crown Court on Monday November 28 Adu-Gyamfi was sentenced to 12 month in jail, suspended for two years and 200 hours of community service.

Barbara Duda, HMRC's Internal Governance Criminal Investigations, said: "HMRC expects the highest standards of behaviour from its staff.

“Adu-Gyamfi blatantly lied to gain employment as an HMRC employee and abused the tax credit system, a system designed to provide financial help to the most vulnerable people in our society, for her own personal financial gain.

“We will relentlessly pursue anyone who attempts to steal from public funds and they will face criminal prosecution."