A Sutton student who fraudulently claimed £5,000 in benefits has been ordered to do over 250 hours of unpaid work by the courts.

Janet Bannerman, 42, of Paisley Terrace, Carshalton, claimed she had no income but in fact had over £13,000 in student loans and grants.

Sutton Magistrates Court heard on April 9 how she was caught when Sutton Council officers matched data to show she was fraudulently claiming income support and housing benefit.

Miss Bannerman pleaded guilty to three charges of benefit fraud and was sentenced to a community punishment order of 250 hours and ordered to pay £100 costs.

A Sutton Council spokesman said Miss Bannerman was the 17th person to be successfully prosecuted by the council for benefit fraud in the last 12 months.

In total more than £530,000 of taxpayers’ money has been fraudulently claimed and is now being recovered, he said.

Deputy leader of Sutton Council Councillor Ruth Dombey said: “Benefit fraud is a crime against honest taxpayers.

“This is money that we need to spend on essential services or that should go to people in genuine need.”

To report someone is claiming benefit they are not entitled to call the council's investigation team, in confidence, on 020 8770 5687.

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