A FRAUDSTER who illegally claimed almost £25,000 in benefits has been handed a suspended prison sentence.

Amanda Bannister, of Chester Path, Loughton, pleaded guilty to three charges of housing benefit and council tax benefit fraud at Chelmsford Crown Court.

Over a two year period from June 2006 to June 2008 she had claimed £22,016 in housing benefits and £1,765 in council tax benefits despite collecting rent on a property she owned in London.

After an investigation by officers from Epping Forest District Council she was taken to court where she was sentenced to eight-months imprisonment suspended for two years, and ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work in the community.

She was also ordered to pay £1,200 in costs having already sold her London property to pay back the benefits she had taken.