Two fraudsters have been sentenced to ten months behind bars for illegally claiming more than £135,000 in benefits.

Hannah Grigson, 38, and her partner Manzoor Qadar, 41, both of Green Street, Brimsdown were sentenced at Wood Green Crown Court for falsely claiming benefits since 2005.

Nine years ago, Grigson claimed for rent to pay her supposed landlord ‘Mr Oder’, who was in fact Qadar.

Three years later, Grigson bought a second property in Dishforth Lane, Barnet for £237,000 and failed to declare the change in circumstances to Enfield Borough Council.

Qader claimed housing benefit and income in his own name from this address.

In September 2009, Grigson moved to Winchmore Hill Road and told the local authority of her change. However, she failed to declare that she had purchased another property and continued to claim benefits.

Following an investigation, it was revealed that Grigson had fraudulently claimed £71,775 in housing benefit and £11,379 in council tax benefit from the authority between August 2006 and March 2012.

Councillor Andrew Stafford, Enfield Council’s cabinet member for finance and property, said: “It was gratifying to see a custodial sentence handed to this couple who spent many years cheating and fiddling the system.

“Benefits are there for those in need, not greedy individuals who think by concealing savings and property they can make a fortune from conning the taxpayer. Whenever another fraudster is caught it is fantastic news for everyone.”