A COUPLE, who fraudulently claimed more than £6,000 in benefits, has been given community service orders by Bexley magistrates.
Sheila Shane, aged 52, and her husband David, aged 28, from Lydia Road, Erith, had both admitted falsely claiming benefits for themselves for several years.
Mrs Shane had started work at Ferndale Foods, in Thamesmead, nine days before she filled in her first application for housing benefit and council tax benefit in 1997.
She had made eight separate claims totalling £3,482 in housing benefit and £373 in council tax relief.
Her husband had also made false claims for £2,422 in jobseeker's allowance.
The court heard neither Shane nor his wife had any previous convictions.
The woman was ordered to complete 40 hours community service and pay costs of £225.
Shane received an order for 70 hours community service and was also ordered to pay £225 costs.
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