A fraudster who scammed her way to more than £11,000 of housing benefits has been spared jail.

Sarah Wood was sentenced to 26 weeks imprisonment, suspended for 12 months, after pleading guilty to fraud at Croydon Magistrates’ Court.

When making a claim for housing benefit the 52-year-old failed to tell Croydon Council that she owned a house in Windham Avenue, New Addington, that had been given to her by her late father in August 2007.

In September 2010, she completed a claim form for housing benefit and council tax, stating that she did not “own any property in the UK or abroad”.

She then signed a declaration confirming that the information she had provided was correct and complete.

Between September 2010 and October 2013, she received a total overpayment amounting to £11,553.84.

Wood, formerly of Calley Down Crescent, New Addington, was discovered when the council’s corporate anti-fraud team received an anonymous tip-off.

The sentencing happened at the magistrates court on June 4.

She now lives in Great Yarmouth.