A woman has been handed a suspended prison sentence after defrauding an authority out of more than £4,500 in council tax.
Over four-and-a-half years, Corinne Pudney, 28, of Calamint Road, Witham, claimed £4,592.86 in support she was not entitled to from Braintree Council.
Pudney made fraudulent statements, claiming she was a single person living alone, in order to receive Council Tax Support and 25 per cent discount on her bill.
Over the four years, she claimed £3,141.88 in fraudulent Council Tax Support and £1,450.98 in Council Tax Single Person Discount.
Pudney pleaded guilty to both offences at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court on Thursday, May 31.
Magistrates sentenced her to six months in prison for each offence, suspended for 12 months.
She was also ordered to complete 100 hours of unpaid work, pay £450 in costs and £115 in a victim surcharge.
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