A FRAUDSTER claimed more than £3,000 in benefits despite having a job at the same time.

Anthea Willetts, 63, of Foundry House, Dixons Yard, claimed housing and council tax benefit as well as Department for Work and Pensions benefits for five years.

An investigation carried out by City of York Council and the DWP found Willetts had been working since 2011.

Willetts was overpaid £301.22 in housing benefit, £101.78 in council tax benefit, and £2,872.94 in DWP benefits, and pleaded guilty to the offence at York Magistrates' Court yesterday.

She was sentenced to a 12-month conditional discharge. She was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £15.

Councillor Tracey Simpson- Laing, City of York Council’s cabinet member for Homes and Safer Communities, said: “This is another good result in the fight on fraud against the public purse with what has been a protracted fraud committed and shows the city’s partnership work to be paying off.

“We encourage anyone with any information on fraudulent activity to phone the fraud hotline on 01904 552935 or email fraud@york.gov.uk