A WOMAN from Wythall has been sentenced to 60 hours of unpaid work after she pleaded guilty to five offences including dishonestly claiming benefits from both Bromsgrove and Stratford district councils totalling more than £7,000.

Judith Kidenya, 42, of Selsdon Close, Wythall was sentenced by Redditch Magistrates on Wednesday, July 6, after pleading guilty to two offences of dishonestly claiming Housing Benefit between June 2013 and September 2014.

Ms Kidenya also admitted to two further offences of failing to notify Stratford District Council that she had moved to an address in Bromsgrove, while she carried on claiming Housing Benefit for an address in Guild Street in Stratford Upon Avon, and making a false claim for hardship payments from Bromsgrove District Council’s Essential Living Fund totalling £434.80.

The investigation was sparked by a data match, which matched electronic data within local authorities and HMRC to prevent and detect fraud.

Ms Kidenya was given a 12 month community order with 60 hours of unpaid work, and ordered to pay the prosecution costs of £920, and a £60 victim surcharge. She was also ordered to pay compensation to Bromsgrove District Council of £434.80 for the value of the amount taken from the hardship fund.

Magistrates heard that the overpaid Housing Benefit totalling £6,318.94 was already being recovered through the council’s own methods.

A spokesperson for Bromsgrove District Council, said: “This case demonstrates the importance of declaring true circumstances when claiming benefit and reporting any changes as they take place. Failure to do so may lead to a criminal record and could have an impact on future claims.”

For information on reporting anyone suspected of fraud, visit bromsgrove.gov.uk/fraud.