Two benefit fraudsters have been sentenced after claiming substantial amounts of money they were not entitled to.

Robert Emerson, 60, formerly of West Molesey, was found guilty of four offences relating to housing and council tax benefit fraud and income support fraud on August 22.

He was sentenced to 10-month imprisonment at Guildford Crown Court.

Emerson made false statements in relation to his claim for housing and council tax benefit with Elmbridge Council and his claim for income support with the Department for Work and Pensions.

He failed to declare capital above the prescribed limit of £16,000 to both agencies when making his claims. He then used these funds to purchase and rent out a property, failing to declare the income from rental of the address to both Elmbridge Council and the Department for Work and Pensions.

Emerson received housing and council tax benefit amounting to over £40,000 and over £33,000 in income support that he was not entitled to. Recovery of the overpayment is being sought from Emerson.

A second fraudster, Carol Royston, 48, of West Molesey, was sentenced on September 5 at Guildford Grown Court.

Royston failed to declare changes in her living arrangements to the Department for Work and Pensions and that she had received several cash deposits in her bank accounts amounting to more than £41,000. She also failed to inform Elmbridge Council of the additional income.

Royston was overpaid more than £4,700 in council tax benefit and more than £28,000 in income support.

Miss Royston was sentenced to 10 months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years, and ordered to carry out 150 hours unpaid work. She was also ordered to pay costs of £3,500.

She is expected to repay the costs and the overpaid monies by the December 1 and failure to do so or complete the unpaid work may lead to her being sent to prison.