A benefit cheat who fraudulently claimed £55,000 she was not entitled to has been prosecuted by Watford Borough Council and the Department for Work and Pensions.

Maxine Fagan of Whitwell Road, Garston, pleaded guilty to obtaining Housing and Council Tax Benefit dishonestly and was sentenced yesterday.

She failed to declare that she had savings of more than £16,000, and that she was working.

Because of this, Fagan received more than £55,000 worth of benefits to which she was not entitled.

Fagan was sentenced at St Albans Magistrates Court to a ten month suspended sentence and is required to undertake 140 hours unpaid work.