Two benefit fraudsters have been told to pay back more than £16,000.

Both Denise Stammers and Aji Ngum lied about their circumstances to cheat taxpayers’ out of money.

Stammers, 33, of Holyrood Place, Broadfield, Crawley, admitted fraudulently claiming £10,776.61 in housing and council tax benefits.

Crawley Magistrates’ Court was told from September 2011 Stammers claimed she lived alone with her dependent child – actually she lived with her partner.

She was jailed for ten weeks, suspended for 18 months, and was ordered to complete 120 hours of community service in the next 12 months.

She was also ordered to pay £85 in costs and a £20 victim surcharge.

Ngum, 45, of Dickens Road, Tilgate, Crawley, admitted fraudulently claiming £6,206.76 of benefits after failing to declare changes in her employment circumstances.

It was found she had not declared the full extent of her employment while claiming housing and council tax benefits.

She was given a 30-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £340 in costs and fees.

Dr Howard Bloom, Crawley Borough Council’s leader, said: “The council takes a very serious view of people who obtain benefit when they are not entitled to it.

“We are committed to detecting and prosecuting people who commit benefit fraud.

“Any claimant whose circumstances change should contact us immediately.”