A YORK woman has been prosecuted after admitting stealing over £2000 through benefit fraud.

Paula Dianne Ferrer-Bowden, 51, of Riverside Gardens, Nether Poppleton, claimed housing benefit and council tax reduction as a single person, having declared that her partner had left the property.

An investigation into her benefit claims was led by Veritau, the council’s fraud investigation service, following information that Ferrer-Bowden had failed to declare that her partner had, in fact, moved back in with her in 2013 and that her claim was fraudulent.

During the course of the investigation Ferrer-Bowden was interviewed under caution and claimed that she had informed the council of the change in her household yet she did not start making payments to her own rent until after she was challenged by investigators, City of York Council said.

Ferrer-Bowden was wrongly awarded £1,277.12 in housing benefit and £830.02 in council tax reduction.

The investigation concluded with Ferrer-Bowden pleading guilty to all charges at York Magistrates' Court. She was sentenced to a community order with a requirement that she complete 80 hours of unpaid work.

Besides repayment arrangements, Ferrer-Bowden was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £60 and court costs of £674.

Cllr David Carr, City of York Council’s leader and executive member for homes and safer communities, said: “This case demonstrates the importance of reporting changes in circumstances to City of York Council and other agencies whilst in receipt of benefits, and the consequences for those who do not. We encourage anyone with any information on fraudulent activity to phone the fraud hotline."

-The fraud hotline number for York is 01904 552935. You can also email fraud@york.gov.uk.