A Watford benefits cheat who pretended to have a house near Oxford and lied about her job has been given a community sentence for falsely claiming nearly £4,000 from the two local authorities.

Marie Sambou, 48, claimed housing benefit from Oxfordshire’s Vale of White Horse District Council while also claiming from Watford Borough Council for her residence in Durban Road.

She was interviewed under caution in November 2013, where she confirmed she never lived in Didcot, near Oxford, but put in her claim for housing benefit to White Horse of Vale Council while visiting the area.

Sambou additionally failed to tell Watford Borough Council she had changed jobs and had also taken on a second job, which meant she was overpaid £224.61 in housing benefit and £75.21 in council tax relief between September 2, 2013, and November 25, 2013.

Oxford Magistrates Court heard on Wednesday last week that Sambou was overpaid £3,695.59 by Vale of White Horse District Council between 8 June, 2013, and 8 October, 2013.

Sambou was ordered to complete 90 hours of unpaid work for the Oxfordshire offence, concurrent to 40 hours of unpaid work for the Watford offence.

She has also been told to pay £250 towards the costs of Vale of White Horse District Council, £100 towards Watford Borough Council’s costs and a £60 victim surcharge.

Saf Ahmed, senior fraud investigations officer for Watford Borough Council, said: "This successful prosecution sends a clear message that benefit fraud won’t be tolerated.

"It is a great example of local authorities working together to ensure money is not illegitimately taken out of the public purse."