A BENEFIT fruadster has been sentenced to 60 hours' community service.
Maria Butcher, aged 25, pleaded guilty to claiming housing benefit of £1,287 and council tax benefit of £993 to which she was not entitled from Bexley Council.
Investigations revealed Butcher did not live at Galleon Close, Erith, as she had claimed, but was in fact subletting the property and receiving £300 a month in rent.
The charge stems back to 2004 when Butcher filled out a housing benefit and council tax benefit application form.
Butcher was ordered to pay £100 towards prosecution costs when she appeared at Folkestone Magistrates' Court on January 16.
She will also have to repay the benefits she falsely claimed.
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