Benefit cheat gets community order

Wednesday 9th December 2009, 9:15AM GMT.

A benefit cheat from Wolverhampton who falsely pocketed more than £11,000 after failing to declare she was working has been ordered to do 100 hours of unpaid work after pleading guilty.

Helen Gough, of Goodyear Avenue, in Low Hill, was claiming income support while working initially as a cook at a residential home and then as a cleaner for Wolverhampton City Council.

Between April 2003 and July 2007 and November 2006 and November 2008, she falsely claimed £11,396.67 – Wolverhampton Magistrates Court heard yesterday.

The court was told 36-year-old Gough failed to notify the Department of Work and Pensions when her employment changed.

View more: Low Hill news, Wolverhampton news.