A WOMAN from Didcot has been sentenced to carry out 100 hours of work after pleading guilty to gaining £13,000 through benefit fraud.

Kyleigh Fisher, 31, of Castle Walk in Didcot, appeared at Oxford Magistrates' Court on Friday, March 3 and admitted two charges relating to claims for housing benefit and council tax reduction.

Magistrates heard that she had failed to notify South Oxfordshire District Council that her partner had begun work.

As a result, between March 2014 and June 2016 she wrongly received a total of £10,750.47 in housing benefit and £2,322 in council tax reductions.

As well as being ordered to carry out unpaid work Ms Fisher was also fined £200 and ordered to pay £185 in costs and victim surcharges.

Jane Murphy, the council's cabinet member for finance, said: “If someone on benefits experiences a change in circumstance they must notify us immediately so we can check whether or not their entitlement has been affected. 

"Benefits are there for those who genuinely need them and we will not hesitate to take action against anyone who we suspect is playing the system.”