A resident of Selby has pleaded guilty to fraudulently claiming £3,500 in benefits from Selby District Council and from the Department for Work and Pensions.

Nancy Stanley, 37 of Holmes Avenue, Selby, was given a 12 month community order to carry out 40 hours unpaid work and ordered to pay the prosecution a contribution towards the costs of £200 when she appeared at Selby Magistrates Court on 10 April 2012.

Ms Stanley was charged with making false statements to Selby District Council and to the Department for work with a view to obtaining benefits which is contrary to the Social Security Administration Act 1992.

After a full investigation by Selby District Council's Counter Fraud Unit, it found that Ms Stanley had failed to declare that she was working more than 15 hours a week between August 2010 and February 2011.

This resulted in a Housing Benefit overpayment o £1,374, a Council Tax Benefit overpayment of £399 and a Jobseekers Allowance overpayment of £1,739. These overpayments are being recovered by Selby District Council and the Department for Work and Pensions directly from Ms Stanley.

Anyone who suspects benefit fraud can report it to the Council either online by calling the Benefit Fraud hotline: 01757 292230 (you do not have to give your name, you can just leave a message).