A SIDEMOOR woman has been successfully prosecuted by the district council after pleading guilty to more than £4,000 of benefit fraud.

Kathleen Prince, 47 of Fallowfields Close, was sentenced by Redditch Magistrates on October 30 after pleading guilty to fraudulently claiming housing benefit and council tax benefit amounting to £4,140.08 between November 2010 and September 2011.

Price failed to notify Bromsgrove District Council that she was working.

After hearing full details of the case and taking her personal circumstances into consideration including arrangements that had already been agreed to repay the falsely claimed benefit, magistrates fined Prince £65, ordered her to pay £250 towards the prosecution costs, and a £15 victim surcharge.

A spokesperson for Bromsgrove District Council said: “This case again shows the importance of reporting changes in circumstances as soon as they take place when claiming housing benefit and council tax benefit - and the consequences of not doing this.”

Anyone wishing to report a case of suspected benefit fraud can do so by calling 01527 881221, completing the online fraud report form at bromsgrove.gov.uk/fraud or by emailing fraud@bromsgrove.gov.uk.