6:00pm Saturday 21st November 2009
A woman who faked a relationship break-up has been convicted of benefit fraud.
Antonia King, of Freeks Lane, Burgess Hill, claimed almost £2,500 in housing benefit and council tax benefit from Mid Sussex District Council after telling officials her partner had left her.
In fact King, 25, was still sharing her home with her partner.
The false information provided by King resulted in an overpayment of nearly £2,500 of benefits between August and November last year.
The fraud was detected by council staff and referred to fraud officers who investigated King and her partner.
During their inquiries investigating officers discovered that they were still living together.
The council prosecuted King at Mid Sussex Magistrates Court and she pleaded guilty to making a false statement and claiming benefits she was not entitled to.
She was sentenced to 50 hours of unpaid community work and ordered to pay the council's costs of £165. The council is now trying to recover the overpayment from King.
Jonathan Ash-Edwards, the council's cabinet member for finance and service delivery, said: "We are committed to dealing firmly with the small minority of local residents who make fraudulent claims because they are taking taxpayers money away from those who really need it."
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