A woman has been sentenced after fraudulently claiming more than £60,000 in benefits.

Christine Scott, 41, of Walton Street, in Enfield, was given a two year suspended sentence for falsely claiming £50,426 in housing benefit, £4,228 in council tax benefit and £847.26 in council tax support between April 1, 2009 and March 31, 2014.

In addition she fraudulently claimed £13,833.85 in income support from the DWP between January 6, 2009 and January 3, 2013.

Ms Scott initially claimed housing benefit and council tax benefit from Enfield Borough Council in July 2008 declaring that she was living on her own and also in receipt of income support.

In support of her claim Ms Scott provided a tenancy agreement which named her and a Mark Scott as joint tenants at the Walton Street property where she was asking Enfield Council for assistance to help to pay her rent.

After Mr Scott declared he did not live at the address, suspicion began after investigators were contacted by officers from the community safety unit’s anti-social behaviour team who had received complaints of anti-social behaviour about Ms Scott and a male residing at her property.

Checks revealed that Ms Scott had a joint bank account with Mark Scott and that all of his financial affairs with various organisations were registered at the Walton Street address.

Councillor Andrew Stafford, cabinet member for finance said: “Ms Scott was brought to book for blatantly lying that she did not live with her partner and claimed as a single parent. Clearly investigations revealed that they was living together and therefore should not have received these benefits at all.

“Again the message that lying or withholding information to the council and DWP will not work, you will be found out, and punished.”