A SCHOOL governor has confessed to fraudulently claiming £70,000 in benefits at the same time as racking in thousands of pounds from her own business.

Accountant Andrea Richards, 35, of Monkswood Avenue in Waltham Abbey, conned the taxpayer out of £56,640 in income support and a further £12,807 in carer's allowance between 2001 and 2008.

Richards made so much money she was even able to buy a villa in Cyprus and had invested in an American time-share apartment in Orlando, Florida.

Her annual income was estimated to be around £50,000, and she also earned extra income by renting out a further property in Stratford, east London.

The mum-of-two first claimed for cash in November 2001 when she was genuinely out of work, but had failed to let the authorities know about her changed circumstances.

At a hearing at Snaresbrook Crown Court, Judge John Hand QC handed her a 12-month jail sentence suspended for two years.

She is also expected to be struck off as an accountant.

Neighbours of Ms Richards's £395,000 house in Monkswood Avenue said they were shocked by the revelations of the court case.

One, who did not want to be named, said: “They are a very friendly, nice couple. It's very sad. I didn't even know anything about it.”

Ms Richards was caught out when investigators from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) found records of her accountancy work on her personal computer.

She also falsely claimed she was a single parent, but was actually living with partner Rodney Bailey, who is listed online as the managing director of the accountancy firm she works for, Account For It Ltd.

The company is also listed as being based out of her Monkswood Avenue home on its website.

Richards pleaded guilty to four counts of false accounting and three counts of obtaining a money transfer by deception.

Helen Goodman, DWP anti fraud minister said: “Benefit thieves take money intended for the most vulnerable in our society.

"Quite rightly the public get angry about such antisocial behaviour and with their support we are closing in on these thieves.

"Anyone who suspects someone is committing benefit theft can call the National Benefit Fraud Hotline on 0800 854 440. Your calls will be treated in total confidence."

The school where she is a governor has not been released.