A WOMAN who used false details to claim more than £600 in benefits from Selby District Council has been ordered to pay the court £200.
Faye Longoni, formerly of Park Lane, Barlow, pleaded guilty to fraudulently claiming £629.89 in housing and council tax benefits at Selby Magistrates’ Court.
Longoni, 26, was also sentenced to a conditional discharge for six months for the crimes, which took place between May and July 2010.
An investigation by the council’s counter fraud unit found Longoni had provided a false Tenancy Agreement and also false details regarding her landlord to the council.
This led to her being overpaid in housing benefit by £537.65 and £92.24 in council tax benefit which the council is in the process of reclaiming.
Kelly Hamblin, prosecuting for the council, told the court Longoni provided a documentation that did not state the correct date the tenancy commenced or the correct landlord details.
The court heard that Longoni admitted she had committed the offences, but said it was done through foolish naivety.
Anyone who suspects benefit fraud can report it to the Council either online via selby.gov.uk or by phoning the Benefit Fraud hotline, anonymously, on 01757 292230.
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