A mother-of-three has been sentenced to 120 community service after fleecing taxpayers of almost £17,000 in fraudulent benefits.

Maria Rowlinson, 35, of Royston Avenue, told Sutton Council she had lived alone with her three children since 2008.

But in fact she was living with her husband, who runs his own scaffolding business, while she pocketed the cash by pretending to be a single parent.

Croydon Magistrates' Court heard she claimed £16,811 in tax credits, income support and council tax benefits over the last three-and-a-half years.

Councillor John Drage, the council’s finance spokesman, said: “We take all the necessary steps to ensure that people who deliberately seek to defraud the council are uncovered and brought before the courts.

"If someone is cheating on council tax benefits, that means higher bills for everyone else.”

Rowlinson was prosecuted after a tip-off from the public led to joint investigation by Sutton Council, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and the Department of the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP).

She pleaded guilty on Tuesday, September 13, and was sentenced to 120 hours of unpaid work on September 13.

If you suspect someone of committing benefit fraud call the National Benefit Fraud Hotline on 0800 854 440.