A mother of two has been convicted of benefit fraud following a joint operation by Watford Borough Council and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

Donna Curle, 30, of The Gossammers, Watford, was convicted on Friday, April 4, at Dacorum Magistrates Court for two offences under the Social Security Admin Act 1992.

The DWP became aware of a change in Curle's circumstances following a data matching exercise comparing records held with them and other agencies.

Curle, a lone parent with two children, was claiming Housing & Council Tax Benefit and Income Support, while working in a part-time job at a local supermarket.

Subsequently,she changed employers working for a restaurant chain.

However in March 2006, Curle did not notify either Watford Borough Council nor the DWP that her hours had increased to more than 16 a week. She had claimed, and was overpaid, £2,231.35 Income Support and £533.35 in Housing & Council Tax Benefit.

She pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 12 months conditional discharge and ordered to pay £100 in costs to the prosecution.

Curle had made effort to repay the Housing & Council Tax Benefit in full and had made an arrangement to repay the overpaid Income Support.

She was given credit for her early guilty plea and her effort to repay the money.