A WOMAN who fraudulently claimed nearly £13,500 in benefits and tax reductions has been handed a suspended prison sentence by magistrates.

Emma Peterkin, of Grandy Close, Grasmere, pleaded guilty to four counts of fraud, when she appeared at Kendal Magistrates Court on 4 September, 2014, said South Lakeland District Council in a statement.

The 31-year-old mum-of-threefraudulently claimed £13,493.26 in benefits and council tax reductions from (SLDC) when she failed to declare that her husband, Withmore Peterkin, had four periods of paid work during the period of claim for benefits, said SLDC.

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Peterkin was given a six week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, a community order to undertake 150 hours of unpaid work over the next 12 months and she was ordered to pay a £215 contribution to the council’s court costs and a victim surcharge of £80.

Peterkin was overpaid £10,339.73 in housing benefits, overpaid £1,494.27 in council tax benefits and claimed £1,659.36 in council tax reductions she wasn’t entitled to.

The magistrates told Peterkin that they were imposing a suspended prison sentence due to the seriousness of the offence, the high value of benefits overclaimed and the fact that the fraud was carried out over a long period of time, said SLDC.

Nicola Hartley, senior solicitor at South Lakeland District Council, said: “The council will always take benefit fraud incredibly seriously.

“People need to be aware that the council will always prosecute where deliberate fraud is uncovered. The council has a responsibility to protect public funds and SLDC will continue to take a tough stance on any type of benefit fraud.

“The vast majority of people are law abiding council tax payers and claim benefit they are entitled to correctly. It is only fair that we take action when benefit is claimed fraudulently.”

The court was told Peterkin has now made an arrangement to repay the overpaid money to the council.