A pensioner has been fined after admitting conning the council out of cash.
Irene Raffaeli, 70, of St Nicholas Gardens, Braintree, received £888.22 in overpayments from Braintree Council.
On August 2, 2016, she falsely claimed she did not own a property of her own, in order to obtain housing.
In August and December the same year and May 2017 she also made false statements to the council in order to gain council tax support.
Raffaeli pleaded guilty to all four offences and was fined £80, ordered to pay £350 costs and a £30 victim surcharge.
The money will be deducted from her state pension.
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