A BENEFIT fraudster from York will be sentenced next month after she admitted obtaining more than £78,000 she was not entitled to.

Karen Fligg, 54, of Jute Road, Acomb, admitted two charges of dishonestly failing to inform City of York Council and the Department for Work and Pensions that she was married and living with her husband while claiming income support, housing and council tax benefit and Job Seekers’ Allowance between 2005 and 2012.

The investigation by the department and counter-fraud organisation Veritau said Fligg was overpaid £78,356. She will be sentenced on March 10.

The council said Fligg was investigated following a tip-off from a member of the public, and her husband, Stephen, was in paid work for several years while she was receiving benefits.