AN EAST Yorkshire woman has received a conditional discharge after admitting benefit fraud of more than £3,500.

Tina Holey, 33, of Holme Church Lane, Beverley, admitted dishonestly failing to promptly declare to East Riding of Yorkshire Council that her partner had been working.

Information received via a data matching exercise showed her partner had started employment in January 2010.

Holey received a 12-month conditional discharge and was ordered to pay £250 costs. Holey will also have to repay the £3,527.07 housing benefit and council tax benefit she fraudulently claimed between January and September 2010.

Andy Hardy, fraud investigation manager, said: “It is only a matter of time before those choosing to commit benefit fraud are caught. Data matching plays a very important role within the fight against fraud; information received is valuable and continually highlights potential fraudulent activity.”

Anyone who suspects benefit fraud in the East Yorkshire should phone a confidential hotline on 01482 394949, text 07786 200 850, or email benefit.fraud@eastriding.gov.uk