A benefit fraudster who swindled £16,000 to buy her council house has been handed 250 hours of unpaid work.

Naomi Harris-White, 47, of Wendling Road, Sutton, admitted failing to declare the amount she and her partner earned at Sutton Magistrates Court on May 13.

Sutton Council were able to freeze her bank accounts, forcing her to pay back the full amount before the charges came to court.

Magistrates were told Harris planned to use the money to buy her council house and subsequently ordered her to carry out 250 hours of community service within 12 weeks, as well as a fine of £100.

Councillor John Drage, Sutton Council's finance spokesman, said “We have a policy of zero tolerance on benefit fraud and we take all necessary steps to ensure that people who deliberately seek to defraud the taxpayer are uncovered and brought before the courts.”

If you think someone is claiming benefits they are not entitled to, please call the investigation team, in confidence, on 020 8770 5687 or via the website sutton.gov.uk/reportabenefitfraud.