A benefits cheat was caught out after she gave birth and revealed the father of her child was living with her.

Marketing executive Symoon Dodd, 21, lied on an application form for housing benefit.

She falsely claimed £7,424 between March 2005 and November 2006.

Dodd, who at the time was living in Carlton Hill, Brighton, received the payments from Brighton and Hove City Council.

The mother of one, who now lives in Liverpool, yesterday admitted making a false statement and dishonestly claiming housing benefit.

Roger Booth, prosecuting, said Dodd submitted a bogus tenancy agreement for the house she shared at the time to support her application.

She also claimed she was living alone when she was sharing a room with her partner Ben Case, Hove Crown Court heard yesterday.

Mr Booth said: “The deception came to light after Dodd had a baby and the council tried to find out who the father was.

“Eventually, they were able to get hold of a birth certificate which named her partner as the father at that address.”

Andrew Stephens, defending, said Dodd now earned £1,000 a month before tax and was suitable for a community order.

Dodd broke down in tears as she was ordered to do 100 hours’ unpaid community work and pay £1,500 costs at £50 a month.

Judge Anthony Niblett told her: “This was a quite deliberate fraud on the benefits system. You and everyone else tempted to act in this way must understand that public finances are a precious resource provided by hard-working people who pay their taxes.

“Ordinary taxpayers understandably get very angry with people who dishonestly claim benefits to which they are not entitled.

“However, I can see you are genuinely sorry and I am confident the courts will not see you again.”

Ayas Fallon-Khan, the council’s cabinet member for central services, welcomed the sentence.

He said: “Making better use of public money is a key priority for us.

“We make no apologies for pursing people who fiddle the benefits system and in effect steal from honest taxpayers.”