A benefit cheat who fleeced the taxpayer out of more than £70,000 has been prosecuted after a tip-off from an outraged member of the public.

Jaswinder Dhalley, from Upper Tooting Road, claimed £72,000 in fraudulent housing benefit and was handed a 16-week jail sentence, suspended for 12 months.

The 59-year-old claimed the cash to cover the rent she said she was paying on her Tooting home. But an investigation showed that she was not paying any rent at all. The house was in fact owned by her brother - and he was not charging her a penny.

Her web of deceipt was discovered when town hall fraud investigators received a tip-off from an outraged member of the public who knew she was cheating the system.

At Wimbledon Magistrates' Court last Thursday Dhalley admitted 11 charges of fraud and was told she must pay all the money back.

She was also told she must pay £1,000 towards the council’s court costs and was ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid community service.

Lead investigator Deborah Baker said: "This was a very deliberate and very determined attempt by Dhalley to cheat taxpayers out of large sums of money."

Anyone with information about benefit cheats can call the town hall’s investigation team in confidence for free on 0800 328 6340. Alternatively call the benefit investigation service directly on (020) 8871 7067.