A woman who defrauded Hammersmith & Fulham (H&F) Council out of £27,000 has narrowly avoided a custodial sentence.
Marian Littlejohn, 46, claimed the housing benefit and council tax benefit by telling the council that she was a single parent in receipt of incapacity benefit because she was too ill to work.
What she failed to state was that she owned a property on Lillie Road, possessed several bank accounts and had been working since 1999.
Littlejohn, of Collingbourne Road, Shepherds Bush, pleaded guilty to five charges of benefit fraud at Isleworth Crown Court on March 1.
On Friday, April 27, Littlejohn appeared at the same court and was given a 24 week prison sentence, suspended for a year.
Cllr Greg Smith, cabinet member for residents’ services, said: “Our corporate anti-fraud service work tirelessly to snare benefit cheats who think it is acceptable to rip off the taxpayer. The message to cheats is this we will find you and bring you to justice.”
May 11, 2012