Brentwood Borough Council has prosecuted a woman for illegally claiming benefits from the Council.

Sharon Harvey, 48, from Sir Francis Way, Brentwood, was overpaid a total of £4,143.39.

She failed to notify the Council that she had changed employers and that her income had increased. As a result, she was overpaid £3,659.47 Housing Benefit and £483.92 Local Council Tax Support between 8 July 2013 - 27 April 2014.

She failed to attend Basildon Magistrates' Court on 17 April 2015 and was found guilty in her absence. A warrant for her arrest was issued so that she could be brought before the court at the earliest opportunity for sentencing.

She surrendered to the warrant on 23 June 2015 and was sentenced at Basildon Magistrates' Court to: 120 hours of unpaid work; ordered to pay £532 costs; and a Victim Surcharge of £60. She must also pay back the overpayment in full.

Brentwood Borough Council's Chair of the Policy, Finance and Resources Committee, Councillor Louise McKinlay, said: "The benefits system is here to help those who are genuinely in need of support. It is not there for people to fraudulently claim money they are not entitled to.

"We will pursue benefit cheats through the courts and they will have to pay back everything they have stolen."

Benefit fraud can be reported anonymously via the Council's confidential Fraud Hotline on 0800 0281492 or email revenue@brentwood.gov.uk