A woman has been ordered to repay £22,000 after falsely claiming benefits for five years.

Sharon Harrison, from Warburton Road, had been falsely receiving income support and council tax benefit since 2008 and repeatedly claimed her husband - who had a full-time job - did not live with her.

Richmond Council’s deputy leader Councillor Geoffrey Samuel said: “Yet again we have demonstrated that we have a zero tolerance approach to benefit fraud. Every time we identify someone who has purposefully tried to cheat the system, we have prosecuted.

“Our main aim is to protect the public purse and ensure that financial help is available for those who truly deserve and are entitled to it. All benefit theft is crime and this council is determined to bring fraudsters to justice.”

Harrison received a six-week custodial sentence, suspended for 12 months, and will cover legal costs of £85 and repay the benefits she had been falsely receiving.

Officers from the Department of Work and Pensions and officers from Richmond Council’s internal audit and investigation team worked on her case.

Coun Samuel said: “This case demonstrates how important it is to make sure you tell the council and the Department for Work and Pensions if there are any changes in your life which will affect your entitlement to benefits.

“If you don’t, you will get found out and we will prosecute.”

To report a suspected fraud, contact the confidential whistle blowing hotline on 0800 3899795, the benefit fraud hotline 020 8891 7839, or report it online via the council’s website richmond.gov.uk.