A fraudster who claimed more than £50,000 in housing benefits has been given a nine-month suspended prison sentence.

Emma Bucknor-Smartt of Enstone Road, Brimsdown, was sentenced at Wood Green Crown Court to do 200 hours of community service.

The 43-year-old had pleaded guilty to claiming £52,783 in housing benefit and £4,763 in council tax benefit.

Bucknor-Smartt began falsely claiming housing and council tax benefits in November 2005. She claimed she was unemployed lone parent, but the Brimsdown woman was actually working full time and owner a property under her married name.